Matthew Knott
National correspondent
Matthew Knott is the foreign affairs and national security correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Australia backs ICC’s role but says ‘no equivalence’ between Israel and Hamas
If the international court were to find Israel’s prime minister and defence chief as well as three Hamas leaders guilty of war crimes, they would not be allowed into Australia.
- by Matthew Knott and Olivia Ireland
‘There is less tolerance’: Wong’s veiled criticism of India under Modi
Senior ministers have been notably reluctant to criticise Narendra Modi’s government, with India seen as a crucial economic and strategic partner for Australia.
- by Matthew Knott
Exclusive
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
‘Afraid and traumatised’: One in four Palestinians claiming asylum in Australia
The push for permanent protection for some temporary visa holders is a fresh test of Labor’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- by Angus Thompson and Matthew Knott
Just a two-hour flight from Australia, idyllic New Caledonia implodes
This week, the tropical Pacific holiday destination erupted amid tensions with the French government in Paris over voting rights.
- by Matthew Knott
Labor senators condemn ‘river to the sea’ chant in Fatima Payman rebuke
Senior Labor figures, including the prime minister, also distanced themselves from Senator Fatima Payman who accused Israel of conducting a genocide in Gaza.
- by Matthew Knott
‘This is a genocide’: Labor senator breaks with government over Israel war
Labor senator Fatima Payman also used the slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, which Anthony Albanese has criticised as provocative.
- by Matthew Knott
Compensation payments spike by $9b with PTSD affecting more young veterans
A surge in veterans’ payments represents one of the biggest budget blowouts, alongside unexpected increases in disaster relief payments and childcare subsidies.
- by Matthew Knott
‘We did not reward Hamas’: Penny Wong defends United Nations vote backing Palestinian statehood
In a rare public display of disunity on foreign affairs, Labor MP Josh Burns said Jewish Australians would feel more isolated as a result of the vote.
- by Matthew Knott and Rachel Clun
Updated
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Australia set to back watered-down United Nations resolution on Palestine
Australian government sources said a watered-down version of the motion contained major concessions by the Palestinians and Arab nations.
- by James Massola and Matthew Knott
‘Stop shifting blame’: Australia, China trade barbs over helicopter incident
The dispute came as Penny Wong announced $110 million in new funding for Tuvalu and confirmed Australia and the tiny island nation would push ahead with a climate resettlement and security treaty inked last year.
- by Matthew Knott