‘I Don’t Lose Sleep’: Penny Wong Shrugs Off Former PM’s Attack

‘I’m much more focused on doing the work here, and the work here is in our national interest, in Australia’s national interest,' the foreign minister said.

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong delivers her keynote speech during the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, Australia on March 4, 2024. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has shrugged off criticism from former Labor PM Paul Keating, who has accused Ms. Wong of “rattling the China can” during her speech at the ASEAN Summit on March 4.

“Actually what I spoke about was the sort of region we want, the importance of the maritime domain for our security, for our economic prosperity—the importance of ensuring that international law continues to operate and be respected and observed—particularly in the South China Sea and in the region,” she told the ABC on March 6.