Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison face off in final leaders’ debate; The debate over the minimum wage in Australia continues; Sale of the port of Darwin in China for a value of 20 million dollars; Josh Frydenberg distances himself from Katherine Deves
To National Security for a moment, and Scott Morrison says he disagrees with Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian’s assurances that Beijing’s moves in the South Pacific do not constitute a security threat.
“I think it is of great consequence…I don’t want to give any amplification to the views of the Chinese government,” the Prime Minister said today in response to a report from the Australian Financial Review.
“I support Australian national interests, not the Chinese government’s view of what national interests are, whether in Australia or across the Pacific, and that is why I have always taken a very strong stance. on this, a position that I have been criticized across the country.
Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Security in the Pacific has become a key pillar of the election campaign following revelations of a security pact between China and the Solomon Islands.
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Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce warned that the threat posed by China in the region was the same island-hopping tactic used by Japan during World War II.
“China is now using the same tactical positioning, and it is imperative in this campaign that the Australian people are fully aware of this. This is not alarmism. It’s a reality and we have to be aware of it,” said Joyce.
Asked about this issue today, opposition leader Anthony Albanese said: “China has changed its position. They are more aggressive in the area. We must, under the terms of the [Joe] Biden Administration [in the US]have competition without disaster.
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