(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners from various parts of Australia gathered in Canberra, the capital city, outside Parliament House, on October 28, 2025, for a peaceful rally. This is one of a series of activities held over four days in Canberra, beginning on Monday October 27th, to expose organ harvesting and the escalating transnational repression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that targets government organizations, federal members, and the public.
Many practitioners, along with David Matas, internationally renowned human rights lawyer who traveled to Australia from Canada, spoke at the rally. Matas recounted his personal experiences which included receiving death threats in the past and how an invitation to speak at last week’s transplant conference was withdrawn by the organizers.
On the same day, a roundtable session was held in Parliament House focusing on transnational repression by the CCP. Matas and Professor Yuan Hongbing, former law professor in China now residing in Australia, were guest speakers at the event. Matas called on the Australian government to start investigations into the CCP’s transnational repression. Professor Yuan said that through systematic transnational repression, the CCP is attempting to control Chinese people overseas and turn them into tools for expanding its authoritarian rule. He also reminded Australian legislators not to sacrifice short-term economic benefits for the nation’s fundamental benefits and security.
Practitioners from all parts of Australia gathered in Canberra on October 28, 2025 for a peaceful rally outside Parliament House. Many practitioners spoke at the rally.
Australia Falun Dafa Association Calls On Government to Begin Parliamentary Investigations
In an interview with NTDTV at the rally, Dr. Lucy Zhao, president of the Australia Falun Dafa Association, said that exposing transnational repression by the CCP is not only speaking out for Falun Gong practitioners, it is fighting for the safety and freedom of all groups in Australia targeted by foreign threats and suppression.
“If Australia cannot protect a group like Falun Gong who want to be good people through following Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, then today the CCP is suppressing Falun Gong, tomorrow it can suppress any groups or individual it doesn’t like. Then where is freedom of belief and speech? The fundamentals of a free democracy is under threat by the CCP.”
John Deller, spokesperson for Australia Falun Dafa Association, spoke at the rally.
John Deller spokesperson for Australia Falun Dafa Association, said in his speech at the rally, “Transnational repression is a form of repression that crosses borders, it’s coming out of China via the Chinese Communist Party system, and that’s extensive.
“Australia is a democratic, open, and free society, and that’s why Falun Gong practitioners are here today. Australia has an obligation to defend human rights, to speak up for the suffering of all people, whether they’re in China, whether they are Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, or people in Hong Kong. The Australian government and Parliament has a right and an obligation to speak up.”
He also reminded people, “But we’re also here raising awareness for Australians. I mean, all MPs in the Parliament House behind us are also victims of transnational repression.”
He gave an example of meeting with an MP two years ago. The member told him, “Well, you’ve told me all these things, but how do I know if I can believe you? Because I also get information and visits from the Chinese Embassy, and they tell me another thing.”
He made an appeal, “MPs have a responsibility to look into these things, not justaccept pressure and influence from the Chinese Communist Party officials here.”
David Matas: I Received Death Threats in the Past
David Matas, human rights lawyer and recipient of the Canada medal, was interviewed by NTDTV at the rally.
During his speech David Matas spoke of several personal incidents he experienced in Australia that was evidence of the CCP’s transnational repression.
He said that many years ago, venues in Bond University in Brisbane and Victoria University in Melbourne were canceled for no reason after they were booked. He said suppression tactics were not limited to interfering with academic activities. In 2010, there was a drive by shooting at The Epoch Times office in Brisbane. It happened a day before he was scheduled to report on organ harvesting targeting Falun Gong practitioners.
He recalled, “There was an event in Australia where people could call in online to ask me questions. One of the callers was from the police in China uttering a death threat against me.”
The most recent incident took place a week before. He put in a thesis abstract at the Transplant Nurses annual conference in Brisbane, and the organization invited him to speak. However, the invitation was subsequently withdrawn. The reason the organization gave him was he, “Shouldn’t get involved in political grandstanding.” Matas said, such words are “more or less repeating communist propaganda.”
He pointed out, “Transnational repression is a complicated issue because it’s not quite the same as foreign interference. What we really need is an inquiry on the subject, which the parliament could and should initiate.”
Everyone Needs to Know About This
During the morning rush hour for several days in a row practitioners held banners, demonstrated the five sets of exercises, and collected signatures in downtown Canberra to stop organ harvesting.
Holly, a human rights activist, said transnational repression is terrible.
Holly, a human rights activist from Australia’s Northern Territory, said she saw practitioners raising awareness in central Canberra on the morning of October 29, and stopped to find out more information. She signed the petition to oppose the persecution.
She said, “All I can see is peace and I’m feeling very... relaxed and I feel welcomed by this practice, so I’m not sure why anyone thinks it’s other than good, because look, this is making me feel relaxed and feel very soothing. It’s only for peace. Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance are universal values. The benefits they bring to the world are easy to see.”
When she learned of the CCP’s global attempts to vilify and threaten Shen Yun Performing Arts, she said, “We need to ask questions. We need to be curious for our own self. We need to find out. We can’t believe the media.”
She also said she plans to tell everyone what she learned today, “I am sad to learn that Falun Gong practitioners are subject to mistreatment including organ harvesting. I think everyone should know the details, that people who believe in Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance are being suppressed. This way we can stop this sooner.”
Athanasius, a monk living in Canberra, also signed the petition to oppose the persecution. He said, “I lived in China for 11 years, from 2000 to 2011. I lived in Shenzhen City. I discovered a lot about the Chinese but I also discovered a lot that was very ugly. And organ harvesting, persecution of people because of their religious beliefs, is evil and wrong.”
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Category: Rallies & Protests
