Speaking at a press conference alongside Mahuta on Thursday, Sen Payne was questioned on whether Australia wants New Zealand to take a stronger line on China, or if Australia - as suggested by Damien O Connor - should show respect and use more diplomacy.
Sen Payne appeared to make a subtle jab at O Connor in her reply on Thursday. One thing I have learnt in my role in this job as Australia s Foreign Minister is not to give advice to other countries, she told reporters in the Beehive. I can talk about the Australia-China relationship and our ongoing commitments about positive engagement with China.
Australia praises enduring Five Eyes alliance after New Zealand minister s China comments raised eyebrows sbs.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sbs.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Speaking to reporters after the speech, Mahuta explained the Five Eyes, an intelligence-sharing alliance, had a specific purpose and she was uncomfortable with expanding its remit to comment on issues broader than those relating to intelligence and security. New Zealand has been very clear, certainly in this term and since we ve held the portfolio, not to invoke the Five Eyes as the first point of contact on messaging out on a range of issues that really exist out of the remit of the Five Eyes, the minister said. We ve not favoured that type of approach and have expressed it to Five Eyes partners.