Tibet supporters say the Australian Government must defend our national sovereignty against foreign interference at the UN next month.
9:30 am – 12.30pm Head shaving and speeches, Parliament House lawn, Canberra (20 people will shave at 11.00 am on lawn - then 20 more at the Chinese Embassy) 12.30 pm – 1:30 pm, Chinese Embassy, Canberra 2.00 pm – 4:30 pm, Prayer session at Sakya Temple of Peace, 27 Jenke Court, Kambah ACT In a striking act of mass defiance, 40 Tibetan-Australians from across the country will shave their heads on the lawns of Parliament House and in front of the Chinese Embassy this Thursday to protest Beijing's escalating foreign interference and honour a fallen activist.
This profound cultural and human rights demonstration is organised by the Tibetan Communities Association of Australia and Australia Tibet Council (ATC) in protest against China's new "Ethnic Unity Law."
The mass head-shaving serves as a traditional sign of deep mourning, sacrifice, and ultimate solidarity with Lobga Rangzen, the Tibetan activist who died after self-immolating outside United Nations Headquarters in New York on 2 July 2026.
"The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will be at the UN in New York next month, we expect them to raise Tibet," said Dr Zoȅ Bedford, Executive Officer of the Australia Tibet Council.
"This is cultural genocide carried out under a false banner of ethnic unity.
"People living in Australia must be free to speak, protest and advocate for human rights without intimidation from a foreign government. China's transnational repression is not only an attack on Tibetans - it is an attack on Australia's sovereignty and democratic freedoms." said Dr Bedford.
"China's long-running policies have already devastated the rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs and other non-Han ethnic groups", said Andrew Witheford, Amnesty International Australia's International Campaigner. "We fear this will result in an escalation of China's brutal policies of forced assimilation".
Australian sovereignty and diaspora communities must be protected from Chinese transnational repression.
Approximately 300 Tibetan community members from Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle, Campbelltown, Blue Mountains and the South Coast (Nowra) travelled to Canberra to send a direct message to the Federal Government.
The Australia Tibet Council is calling on the Australian Government to:
- Call for the repeal of China's Ethnic Unity Law;
- Defend Tibetans and other communities in Australia against transnational repression;
- Speak out against China's human rights abuses in Tibet;
- Protect Tibetan language, culture, religion and identity.
At least 171 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest against Chinese rule in Tibet, making Lobga Rangzen's death the latest tragic reminder of the deep human cost of repression.
"Lobga Rangzen asked us not to mourn him. He asked us to act. On 20 August, we will answer his call; standing with Tibet, standing against transnational repression, and defending Australia's sovereignty," said Kalsang Tsering, Member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile representing Australia.
"Next month Australia's Prime Minister will travel to the UN in New York - the very place where Lobga Rangzen self immolated. This was a desperate protest to demand the world does not ignore Tibet. Our PM must speak up for Tibet while at the UN and ensure the world does not look away", said Yangkyi Sangpo, Tibetan Community spokesperson.
On 2 July 2026, Tibetan activist Lobsang Palden, known as Lobga Rangzen, died after self-immolating outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York. His death came just one day after China's new Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress came into force.
Background Australia Tibet Council background paper Australia Tibet Council and Tibetan Communities Association statement on Lobga Rangzen self immolation Australia Tibet Council background on China's ethnic Unity law
