It has been announced that the more relaxed reporting rules for foreign journalists, introduced temporarily ahead of the Olympic Games, will become permanent. However, Tibet has been excluded - meaning that journalists will still require ‘special permission’ from Chinese authorities to travel to Tibet or to speak to Tibetans.

On 15 September 2008, a private members motion on Human Rights in Tibet was introduced by Mr Peter Slipper (Lib). The motion was seconded by Mr Michael Danby (ALP) and both Senators spoke of their continuing concern over the situation in Tibet.

Kalon Kesang Yangkyi Takla, Kalon (Minister) for the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration, concluded her six-day visit to Australia with two days of high-level political meetings in Canberra.

The Dalai Lama has left hospital fully recovered after successful surgery to remove gallstones. Doctors have given His Holiness the ‘green signal’ to resume his normal travel schedule at the end of this month.