SENATOR THE HON PENNY WONG
LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SENATE
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Subjects: Lunar New Year; Death of Alexei Navalny.

PENNY WONG, FOREIGN MINISTER: It's fantastic to be back here in Box Hill again for another Lunar New Year celebration, and I wanted to say to everybody Gong Xi Fa Cai.

JOURNALIST: How do you respond to Alexei Navalny's death?

FOREIGN MINISTER: We are shocked and saddened by the death of Alexei Navalny. His resistance, his opposition to a repressive regime was inspiring to so many people around the world. And we make clear that we hold the Russian government solely responsible for his treatment and his death.

JOURNALIST: Will you be taking any action in terms of sanctions or anything like that?

FOREIGN MINISTER: We have already issued a great many sanctions against the Russian regime. I obviously don't speculate on what further action the government might take on that front.

JOURNALIST: That's all. Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER: Thank you very much.

ENDS

Media Contact:
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Authorised by Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia.