![Kelsey Munro](https://www.lowyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/0I0A7449-Edit-333x500.jpg)
Biography
Publications
Kelsey Munro was a Research Fellow and Podcast Director at the Lowy Institute.
Before joining the Institute, Kelsey was a journalist and editor at The Sydney Morning Herald covering state and national politics, education and urban affairs, a reporter at SBS News covering Asia-Pacific foreign policy and security, and a contributing writer at Guardian Australia. In 2016 she led a team on a five-part multimedia feature about the Abbott government, which was nominated for a Walkley Award. She has a Bachelor of Arts and Law and a Master’s in International Relations majoring in Asia-Pacific politics from the University of Sydney.
Kelsey has a special interest in China and Australia-China relations.
![Australia’s election: Morrison fires the starter’s pistol](https://www.lowyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/styles/expert_publications/public/46342681064_11d694ac16_k.jpg?itok=aiQjBSzh)
Australia’s election: Morrison fires the starter’s pistol
Australia is off to the polls on 18 May, with yet another change of PM in prospect over familiar political battlelines.
![China cabinet: Two Sessions, W-We’ve got Two Sessions](https://www.lowyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/styles/expert_publications/public/GettyImages-1128720182-min.jpg?itok=NVMw2oic)
China cabinet: Two Sessions, W-We’ve got Two Sessions
Forget concerns about Xi Jinping’s all-consuming leadership – gangsta attitude and Party time is on the agenda today.
![China cabinet: the not-so-secret hack, plus the enemy of Freeman](https://www.lowyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/styles/expert_publications/public/14040508455_b588e49730_k.jpg?itok=gesZlDRG)
China cabinet: the not-so-secret hack, plus the enemy of Freeman
The strange reluctance to call out a “sophisticated state actor”, and Xi Jinping Thought now policed via a mobile app.
![Polls apart: how Australian views have changed on “boat people”](https://www.lowyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/styles/expert_publications/public/10913725665_6541ea8f88_k.jpg?itok=U6m6jV7O)
Polls apart: how Australian views have changed on “boat people”
Charged atmospherics over border security has plenty guessing about public attitudes, but the numbers tell a story, too.
![China cabinet: Huang Xiangmo’s visa strife, and outlook downbeats](https://www.lowyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/styles/expert_publications/public/Photo_of_an_ink_stamp_on_passport.jpg?itok=lBf0Zujo)
China cabinet: Huang Xiangmo’s visa strife, and outlook downbeats
Is Australia stepping up pushback against Beijing? And why is China worried about economic bad views?
![China cabinet: black swans, grey rhinos, an elephant in the room](https://www.lowyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/styles/expert_publications/public/photo-1541414779316-956a5084c0d4.jpeg?itok=jMzcPey9)
China cabinet: black swans, grey rhinos, an elephant in the room
A rare acknowledgement of economic risk, the detention of Yang Hengjun, and the changing air around Xi Jinping.
![Australia’s new foreign-influence laws: Who is targeted?](https://www.lowyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/styles/expert_publications/public/jr-korpa-1131367-unsplash.jpg?itok=gHiwIGaW)
Australia’s new foreign-influence laws: Who is targeted?
Australia is leading the democratic push-back against quiet intrusions from authoritarian states.
![Bill Shorten takes on the world](https://www.lowyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/styles/expert_publications/public/image001.jpg?itok=uU2pNi5T)
Bill Shorten takes on the world
It’s not Australia going it alone, but the Labor leader wants to chart a more independent course in foreign policy.
![A free press is a magic weapon against China's influence peddling](https://www.lowyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/styles/expert_publications/public/GettyImages-458829888-min.jpg?itok=HGHe4Yk1)
A free press is a magic weapon against China's influence peddling
Australian journalism had a big role to play in dragging the problem of Chinese Communist Party influence into the light.