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On the Belt and Road for Victorians...
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Neil Mitchell says it’s time Australia started standing up for itself against China.
And international security analysts agree.
While China is Victoria’s largest tourism market and major trade partner, there are concerns over espionage, undue influence over politicians and hacking.
Victoria has signed a memorandum of understanding with China on the Belt and Road initiative.
“I think it’s time to tear that deal up,” Neil Mitchell said.
Michael Shoebridge, director of defence and strategy at the Strategic Policy Institute, agrees.
“I think so,” he said.
https://www.3aw.com.au/neil-mitchells-china-concerns-says-its-time-australia-stood-up-for-itself/
Like I said in another thread, they are all as bad as one another.It's amazingly dishonest.
They took the Ombudsman to High Court to try to stop it coming out, all on taxpayers money of course.
They got to her anyway, the report doesn't recommend charges. using public money to affect elections, is there anything lower than that in a democracy? As the Age's reporter Noel Towell states, Labor thinks it dodged a bullet. the voters might have other ideas.
Politics aside, I do see it as inappropriate for a state government to be dealing with a foreign national government in a manner that's contrary to the views of the Australian Government.Andrews is a traitor.
Yes a very awkward situation developing,it will be very interesting to watch this one unfold, could take the foreign affairs department to a whole new level.Politics aside, I do see it as inappropriate for a state government to be dealing with a foreign national government in a manner that's contrary to the views of the Australian Government.
That's akin to an employee defying senior management and doing precisely what they refused to approve. By all means argue the point and make the case but ultimately authority does need to be respected and when it comes to dealings with foreign governments that properly sits with the federal government not the states.
Same goes for any state.
Are we at war with China?Andrews is a traitor.
No but from memory, borrowing money from overseas, caused Gough a lot of grief.Are we at war with China?
The issue as I see it is that international relations are a federal matter not a state matter.Are we at war with China?
The issue as I see it is that international relations are a federal matter not a state matter.
If the feds were happy with it then no problem. If they're not happy with it well then that's an issue if Victoria still goes ahead.
I'm no fan of News Corp's version of news but ultimately I do question what's going on here.Belately I find out that the attack on Andrews has been orchestrated by News Corp.No surprises there.
Not into this much-but who do state governments borrow money from?Is it only because it is the Chinese?I know that the French own utilities in Australia-sold be state governments etc.I'm no fan of News Corp's version of news but ultimately I do question what's going on here.
A state government doing deals with a foreign national government, and a major one at that, is somewhat akin to the office clerk deciding to defy the CEO and board and sign a contract with a company they specifically stated to not do business with. A contract which just happens to affect the entire direction of the company.
Regardless of the arguments for or against the deal and China more generally, such a matter would seem to be one for the Australian Government not any state government.
I'd be saying exactly the same thing if it were SA, NSW or Tas (all Liberal) doing a deal with the US. All fine if the Australian Government has no objection but if the feds do say no well then the state ought to respect that international relations are outside their jurisdiction.
On the other hand, in defence of Dan Andrews, it could be argued that the Australian Government has been so ineffective on all manner of things for quite some time that individuals, businesses and state governments had no real choice other than to take matters into their own hands.
There's a number of policy areas where the feds have given away control in practice simply by not doing anything, thus forcing others to act, which then usually results in the feds getting all excited and starting a fight when they realise someone else has in practice stepped in and set national policy. Listed company AGL found themselves in the firing line at one point with that one over a different issue and it dragged on for quite some time.
YesAre we at war with China?
'Prepare for worst-case scenario': China ramps up military amid rising global tensions
And what exactly does this have to do with Daniel Andrews ?'Prepare for worst-case scenario': China ramps up military amid rising global tensions
China’s leader has told its military to step up its preparedness for armed combat, as relations with Australia and the US continues to deteriorate.
https://www.news.com.au/technology/...s/news-story/8f16a5da11a10ee66186146a0dcdb946
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