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‘Deeply concerning’: Peter Dutton calls for Tennis Australia to speak up about Peng Shuai
Tennis Australia’s censorship of activists campaigning against the treatment of Peng Shuai is “deeply concerning” and the sporting body should speak up about the Chinese tennis player, according to Defence Minister Peter Dutton. Ms Peng disappeared months ago after voicing accusations of sexual assault against a former Chinese Communist Party member but has since appeared in a number of videos – prompting fears of coercion. Last week video surfaced of police and Australian Open officials asking a spectator at Melbourne Park to remove a shirt which said “where is Peng Shuai?” Tennis Australia subsequently said it prohibits “clothing, banners or signs that are commercial or political”. But Mr Dutton argued Ms Peng's situation deserved a human rights focus. “It’s deeply concerning, and I think we should be speaking up about these issues,” Mr Dutton told Sky News Australia on Tuesday. “I’d encourage not just celebrities but tennis organisations, including Tennis Australia, WTA’s been very good in relation to it, but other governments and other bodies, we need to speak as one voice on this.”
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