(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners held a press conference in front of Parliament House in Canberra on September 2, 2025. They called on the Australian Parliament to take action to stop the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) transnational repression and infiltration to ensure the Australian people’s rights and Australia’s sovereignty.
Several Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) practitioners spoke at the rally and described how they personally experienced the CCP’s persecution in Australia or witnessed CCP agents coerce various sectors of the Australian community. The event also garnered support from the Tibetan community, and a representative of the Tibetan government-in-exile attended to voice his support and to jointly call on elected Australian lawmakers to recognize the CCP’s increasing harassment and suppression that undermines Australia’s freedom and sovereignty.
The press conference was a key component of a three-day series of truth-clarification activities by Falun Dafa practitioners in the Australian capital. In addition to doing the exercises each day and displaying banners on the lawns in front of Parliament House, practitioners also visited embassies, collected signatures in a busy downtown area, set up a booth, and visited federal lawmakers inside Parliament House.
Falun Dafa practitioners held a rally in front of Parliament House on September 2, 2025.
Raising awareness of the CCP’s persecution in front of the Chinese Embassy in Canberra on September 1 and 3, 2025.
Australian Falun Dafa Association Condemns the CCP’s Escalating Transnational Repression
Over the past year, the Falun Dafa community around the world has faced a dramatic escalation in the CCP’s transnational repression. Shen Yun Performing Arts has been the target of numerous bomb threats, venue intimidation, and threats of violence that were linked to the CCP. These attacks are not isolated incidents targeting a single performing arts company, but are part of a broader, transnational campaign of repression aimed at silencing Falun Dafa outside of China.
Dr. Lucy Zhao, president of the Falun Dafa Association of Australia, addressed the rally.
“The rise in transnational repression is not only a direct attack on individuals in our communities–it undermines Australia’s democratic freedoms and threatens our national sovereignty. Australians must not live in fear of intimidation orchestrated by a foreign government,” Dr. Zhao said.
The Falun Dafa Association’s specific requests to the Australian lawmakers include: beware of those who pretend to be Falun Dafa practitioners; publicly condemn the CCP’s transnational repression; establish an annual parliamentary hearing or investigation mechanism regarding the CCP’s transnational repression or human rights abuses and their impact on Australia; and enact legislation to counter the CCP’s transnational repression.
John Deller, spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Association of Australia, addressed the rally.
John Deller, spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Association of Australia, stated that in addition to the Falun Dafa community, the Tibetan community, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, and even Taiwanese, Australians are also experiencing transnational repression. “Every member of Parliament is experiencing transnational repression from the CCP, but they may not yet realize it,” he said. “One of our tasks today is to help members of Parliament understand that the Australian government and members of Parliament must represent the Australian people, take concrete action, and clearly point out that the root cause of transnational repression is the CCP.”
He also stated that Falun Dafa practitioners wish to help members of Parliament understand the efforts of practitioners and what Falun Dafa means. Ultimately, this will help the Chinese people regain their freedom, including freedom of belief and freedom from communist control.
Tibetan Representative: Working Together for Justice
Tenzin P. Doring, Australia’s elected member of parliament for the Tibetan government in exile, addressed the rally.
Mr. Tenzin P. Doring, Australia’s elected member of parliament for the Tibetan government in exile, said that the CCP not only controls the government but also manipulates the minds and hearts of the Chinese people. “As a son of a former political prisoner and a grandson of a former political prisoner, I can feel the harrowing experiences that you [Falun Gong practitioners] are going through, your parents have gone through, and your children may go through if the same regime continues to remain as a part of the government.
“You and I are fighting for justice, and I know it is very difficult to be on the right side when the government is always on the wrong side,” said Mr. Doring. “And you, as one of the most victimized members of the community in China, we also fight with you, and we are all on the same platform.”
Practitioner Intimidated in Canberra by 610 Office Officials
Several practitioners addressed the rally and described their experiences of the CCP’s transnational repression.
Practitioner Ms. Jiang from Canberra narrated her experience of being intimidated by 610 Office officials in Australia in November 2024.
Ms. Jiang went to a business area in Canberra to collect signatures on a petition calling to stop the CCP’s persecution. She said, “I walked into a local butcher shop. A young Chinese man sat behind a computer screen at the cash register. I greeted him and told him about the CCP’s persecution and state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting when another middle-aged man walked in and asked my name and phone number. I sensed something was amiss during the conversation and asked if he was part of the system. He replied by asking if I’d heard of the 610 Office. I asked, “Are you from the 610 Office?’ He nodded in agreement. His answer instantly made me nervous. I asked if he persecuted Falun Gong practitioners in China. He casually replied, ‘No, I turned them all over to the police.’”
Ms. Jiang said, “The 610 Office is notorious for persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. My family has been persecuted repeatedly in China for practicing Falun Gong and raising awareness about it. They’ve been threatened by the police and the 610 Office. When I tried to persuade him not to participate in the persecution in Australia, he kept trying to get my personal information. It was clear he was trying to get more information about Shen Yun through me. He wanted me to renounce my faith and provide so-called insider information about Falun Gong.
“I noticed there were cameras inside the butcher shop. I kept using various examples to persuade him not to participate in the persecution, but he tried to exploit my weaknesses and extract information. He peppered me with questions, making me feel oppressed. Although I was in a free country, I felt like I was being illegally interrogated by the Domestic Security Department officers at a police station in China. I tried to remain calm and offer advice. When I mentioned the ‘Overseas 110’ hotline and Eric, a former CCP secret police officer who had defected, the middle-aged man said they weren’t under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Consulate, but rather the Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of the United Front.”
Ms. Jiang concluded, “Since this incident, I’ve had nightmares and worry about my safety and that of my family. Falun Gong practitioners believe in Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, which are universal values, yet transnational repression is violating human rights. I urge the Australian government to take this matter seriously, conduct a thorough investigation, and stop tolerating the CCP’s evil deeds. It must draw a clear line with the CCP and prevent these communist rogues from acting recklessly. Using justice to protect universal values is protecting Australia and the freedom of every Australian.”
Tourist Supports Practitioners
Janine Zomer
During the rally, Janine Zomer, a passing tourist, said this was the first time she had heard of Falun Gong. She was so captivated by the scene as practitioners peacefully meditated and petitioned that she stopped to learn more and sign the petition.
After learning about the persecution Falun Gong practitioners face in China, Zomer exclaimed, “This is horrific! I can’t believe it’s still happening. I really can’t believe it.”
She said she deeply identifies with the universal values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance that practitioners uphold: “Everyone should follow these principles.”
After learning that the Falun Gong rally was about exposing the CCP’s escalating transnational repression, she said, “The CCP shouldn’t be doing this at all. You must spread this information.”
Canberra resident Olivia Mawson said the Australian government should speak out and impose sanctions or diplomatic pressure on the CCP.
Pam (left) and Christian
Pam said she didn’t know much about Falun Gong before she saw the practitioners’ rally that day, but after talking with practitioners, she was very interested and said, “I really want to share this information with my Chinese colleagues.
“Falun Gong practitioners are being persecuted in China for their beliefs, and this is wrong. You haven’t done anything wrong; this is a peaceful act. Everyone has the right to freedom, and we should respect that.
“The principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are great. What you’re doing here is admirable, and I’ve learned the importance of patience. It’s truly wonderful. I think your peaceful petition is a great and encouraging act. I’ll share this with my friends.”
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Category: Rallies & Protests
