Voting in the 2023 Referendum
On 14 October 2023, Australians will be asked to vote in a referendum to alter the Constitution.
The Australian Embassy in Beijing will be an in-person voting centre and postal vote collection centre.
Embassy open hours:
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Thursday 5 Oct |
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Voting open |
1000-1600 |
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Friday 6 Oct |
– |
Voting open |
1000-1600 |
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Monday 9 Oct |
– |
Voting open |
1000-1600 |
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Tuesday 10 Oct |
– |
Voting open |
1000-1600 |
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Wednesday 11 Oct |
– |
Voting open |
1000-1600 |
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Thursday 12 Oct |
– |
Voting open |
1000-1600 |
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Friday 13 Oct |
– |
Voting open |
1000-1600 |
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Saturday 14 Oct |
– |
Voting open |
1000-1600 |
All eligible Australians living in or visiting China will be able to vote.
To be eligible to vote, you must be enrolled. Please ensure that your enrolment details are up to date at the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website.
A valid Australian Passport will be required to access the Australian Embassy.
If you are overseas and are unable to vote in-person, you can apply for a postal vote. Postal vote packs will be sent to you from Australia by courier, so you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
You can return your postal vote directly to the AEC in Australia or you can drop it off at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, and no later than Saturday 14 Oct, or post it to:
Australian Embassy Beijing
21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Beijing 100600
It is not compulsory to vote if you are not in Australia at the time of the referendum.
Additional information on the referendum and voting is available from the AEC website and Smartraveller.
End of COVID-19 predeparture requirement in China
Australia’s pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirements for passengers arriving from the People’s Republic of China, including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, will cease applying to flights that land in Australia at 12.01am on 11 March 2023. Please visit: https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/end-of-covid-19-predeparture-requirement-in-china?language=en
Updated Travel Advice – 29 August 2023
We've reviewed our advice for China. We haven't changed the level of our advice, exercise a high degree of caution. As previously advised, authorities have detained foreigners on the grounds of ‘endangering national security’. Australians may be at risk of arbitrary detention or harsh enforcement of local laws, including broadly defined National Security Laws.
Travel advice:
Exercise a high degree of caution in China overall.
Click here for Travel Advice.
Subscribe to get updates on our travel advice for China.
Click here to register for the Smartraveller subscription service and receive latest updates to out travel advice .
For Australians requiring urgent consular assistance after hours, please telephone the Embassy main switch number on (010) 5140 4111 and press “1” and you will be transferred to the Consular Emergency Centre.
Alternatively, you can telephone the Consular Emergency Centre directly on 61 2 6261 3305
Latitude Financial Services data breach - 13 April 2023
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is aware of a cyber incident impacting Latitude Financial Services.
Click Here for more Information and Frequently Asked Questions.
Medibank Private/ahm and other recent data breaches – advice for foreign passport holders
Medibank Private/ahm have advised the Australian Passport Office (APO) that no Australian Travel Document information was compromised in this breach.
Foreign passports for international students were compromised through this cyberattack. Medibank Private/ahm are contacting impacted customers directly.
If Medibank Private/ahm have advised you that your foreign passport information was compromised, you should contact the government that issued the passport for advice on what to do. This is also the case for all data breaches that impact foreign passport holders, including the recent breaches at Optus and Medlab.
More information:
Medibank/ahm impacted customers:
- Call Medibank on 134 148 (within Australia) or +61 3 9862 1095 (International)
- Contact Medibank’s 24/7 Student Health and Support line (Medibank international students call 1800 887 283 and ahm international students call 1800 006 745)
- Visit Medibank Cyber Event Updates and Support page medibank.com.au/cybersecurity
- Go to ID Care’s dedicated Medibank and ahm breach response plan.
- See the Australian Cyber Security Centre's Medibank Private alert.
Optus impacted customers:
- Contact Optus customer service directly on 133 937 (within Australia), or +612 8082 5678 (International), or go to their Passport Information (link is external) webpage.
- Go to our Frequently Asked Questions on the Optus data breach and passport information
- See the Australian Cyber Security Centre's Optus data breach (link is external) alert.
Medlab impacted customers:
Contact Medlab customer service directly on +61 1800 433 980, or go to their data breach web page (link is external).
News and Speeches
(29 September 2023) Media release from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Australia ready to welcome back Chinese tour groups
(25 September 2023) Media release from Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell.
National Anti-Scam Centre warns of spike in scams threatening Chinese students
(21 September 2023) Media release from Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's comments to media following meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
(7 September 2023) Transcript from doorstop - Jakarta.
Bilateral Meeting with Premier of The People's Republic of China
(7 September 2023) Opening remarks from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang.
Meeting with China’s Premier Li Qiang
(7 September 2023) Media statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Australia-China high level dialogue
(2 September 2023) Media release from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Australia-China Consular Consultations
(21 August 2023) Media release from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Meeting with China's Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng
(14 August 2023) Joint Media Release from Minister for Education Jason Clare, Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor.
(11 August 2023) Statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Australia set to welcome back Chinese group tours
(10 August 2023) Statement from Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell.
Statement on reinstatement of barley exporters to China
(09 August 2023) Joint statement from Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt.
Australia’s new International Development Policy and Development Finance Review
(08 August 2023) Australia’s new International Development Policy and Development Finance Review -- Joint media release from Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy
Resolution of barley dispute with China
(04 August 2023) Joint statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt.
Joint Statement on Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) 2023
(29 July 2023) Joint Statement
Gender Equality Symposium, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane
(28 July 2023) Speech from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Global leaders unite for Gender Equality
(28 July 2023) Joint statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Anika Wells MP, Minister for Aged Care, Minister for Sport.
Meeting with China’s Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi
(13 July 2023) Media release from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Meeting with China’s Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi
(13 July 2023) Opening remarks from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
National Foundation for Australia-China Relations grants announcement
(27 June 2023) Media release from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
(27 May 2023) Statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong
National Foundation for Australia-China Relations Advisory Board Appointments
(15 May 2023) Media release from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
16th Joint Ministerial Economic Commission, Beijing
(13 May 2023) Media release from Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism, Australia.
(11 May 2023) Media release from Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism, Australia.
Australia-China Senior Officials’ Talks
(12 April 2023) Media release from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia.
Statement on sentencing of Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi
(11 April 2023) Media release from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia.
Step forward to resolve barley dispute with China
(11 April 2023) Joint statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt.
(31 March 2023) Statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Visit to China to attend the Bo’ao Forum for Asia
(27 March 2023) Media statement from Assistant Minister for Trade Tim Ayres.
Meeting with China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Qin Gang
(04 March 2023) Media statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Australia Stands with Ukraine with Additional Military Support and Sanctions
(24 February 2023) Joint statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Ambassador Fletcher meets Head of International Department
(17 February 2023) Media release from Australian Embassy, China
Embassy Opening Hours
Note: The Australian Embassy, Beijing is currently closed as per the above advice.
The Embassy will be open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday except for public holidays.
Australians requiring advice or assistance from the consular section may call during business hours from 8:30 to 5:00 Monday to Friday.
Please note: Passport Applications: Monday-Friday 9:00 – 12:00 and Notarial Services: Monday-Friday 14:00 – 15:30 by making appointment.
