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Malcolm Turnbull denies he is anti-China in combative Q&A appearance Malcolm Turnbull denies he is anti-China in combative Q&A appearance
(about 9 hours later)
Malcolm Turnbull has declared an Australian prime minister with a Chinese granddaughter cannot be anti-Beijing, and he has branded any suggestion to the contrary “outrageous” and “absurd”.Malcolm Turnbull has declared an Australian prime minister with a Chinese granddaughter cannot be anti-Beijing, and he has branded any suggestion to the contrary “outrageous” and “absurd”.
In a combative performance on the ABC’s Q&A program on Monday night, Turnbull rejected a suggestion that Australia’s intelligence agencies could have leaked details of a private conversation between the Labor senator Sam Dastyari and the Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo, and insisted that when it came to combating Chinese interference in this country, Australia was entitled to stand up for its sovereign interests.In a combative performance on the ABC’s Q&A program on Monday night, Turnbull rejected a suggestion that Australia’s intelligence agencies could have leaked details of a private conversation between the Labor senator Sam Dastyari and the Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo, and insisted that when it came to combating Chinese interference in this country, Australia was entitled to stand up for its sovereign interests.
How will the govt avoid the perception that proposed espionage laws are simply aimed at hurting Labor? @TurnbullMalcolm responds #QandA pic.twitter.com/82Mtk3lTbGHow will the govt avoid the perception that proposed espionage laws are simply aimed at hurting Labor? @TurnbullMalcolm responds #QandA pic.twitter.com/82Mtk3lTbG
Controversy over Chinese influence is intensifying and is a significant backdrop to Saturday’s crucial byelection in the Sydney seat of Bennelong, with a new poll published in Tuesday’s Australian showing the contest on a knife-edge: the major parties are 50-50. Turnbull took the opportunity on Monday night of spruiking the Liberal incumbent John Alexander, declaring him “Australia’s champion” and “Bennelong’s champion”. Controversy over Chinese influence is intensifying and is a significant backdrop to Saturday’s crucial byelection in the Sydney seat of Bennelong, with a new poll published in Tuesday’s Australian showing the contest on a knife-edge: the major parties are 50-50. Turnbull took the opportunity on Monday night to spruik the Liberal incumbent John Alexander, declaring him “Australia’s champion” and “Bennelong’s champion”.
As well as asserting he could not possibly be anti-China by foregrounding his familial links (the prime minister’s Mandarin-speaking son Alex is married to Chinese-born Yvonne Wang), Turnbull insisted that all Australians, “whether they are of Chinese background or not, expect their leaders to stand up for Australia”.As well as asserting he could not possibly be anti-China by foregrounding his familial links (the prime minister’s Mandarin-speaking son Alex is married to Chinese-born Yvonne Wang), Turnbull insisted that all Australians, “whether they are of Chinese background or not, expect their leaders to stand up for Australia”.
“Let me say the suggestion that I or my government or Australia generally is anti-Chinese is outrageous – absolutely outrageous,” the prime minister said.“Let me say the suggestion that I or my government or Australia generally is anti-Chinese is outrageous – absolutely outrageous,” the prime minister said.
Turnbull also used Monday’s night’s appearance to keep political pressure on Dastyari after two Labor frontbenchers on Monday said publicly the strife-prone senator needed to consider his position in the parliament, and with senior Labor figures now privately conceding his political career is likely finished. Turnbull also used Monday’s night’s appearance to keep political pressure on Dastyari after two Labor frontbenchers on Monday said publicly the strife-prone senator needed to consider his position in the parliament, and with senior Labor figures now privately conceding his political career is likely to be finished.
The prime minister faced pressure on a number of fronts during an at-times tetchy performance on the current affairs program, at one point suggesting his host, Virginia Trioli, was asking an ABC question when she referred to Turnbull’s well-documented battles with the right of his party, and objecting to a time limit imposed on his rhetorical attack on Dastyari. The prime minister faced pressure on a number of fronts during an at-times tetchy performance on the current affairs program, at one point suggesting that the host, Virginia Trioli, was asking an ABC question when she referred to Turnbull’s well-documented battles with the right of his party, and objecting to a time limit imposed on his rhetorical attack on Dastyari.
Turnbull clashed with a guest on the program who expressed disappointment that the government had rejected the Uluru statement recommendations, which include embedding an Indigenous voice to parliament in the constitution.Turnbull clashed with a guest on the program who expressed disappointment that the government had rejected the Uluru statement recommendations, which include embedding an Indigenous voice to parliament in the constitution.
Turnbull said the government would not accept an effective third chamber for the parliament, and he contended the proposal would have “no prospect of success whatsoever” at a referendum. The prime minister said the government would not accept an effective third chamber for the parliament, and he contended that the proposal would have “no prospect of success whatsoever” at a referendum.
Why won’t you respect Indigenous Australians’ desire for a First Nations Voice and take it to a referendum? @TurnbullMalcolm responds #QandA pic.twitter.com/ugaj5YfqoSWhy won’t you respect Indigenous Australians’ desire for a First Nations Voice and take it to a referendum? @TurnbullMalcolm responds #QandA pic.twitter.com/ugaj5YfqoS
When the guest pushed back, accusing Turnbull of a failure of leadership, and challenging him to put the proposal to the people as he had done on marriage equality, the prime minister rounded on her, asking whether she lacked faith in the current Indigenous representatives in parliament such as Ken Wyatt and Linda Burney – whether she believed they were “tokens”.When the guest pushed back, accusing Turnbull of a failure of leadership, and challenging him to put the proposal to the people as he had done on marriage equality, the prime minister rounded on her, asking whether she lacked faith in the current Indigenous representatives in parliament such as Ken Wyatt and Linda Burney – whether she believed they were “tokens”.
Turnbull said he would pursue a new parliamentary committee with Labor to try and work out next steps for the recognition process but he suggested to the program guest she should be content with Indigenous representation in the parliament rather than advance a proposal creating “in effect” a new chamber. Turnbull said he would pursue a new parliamentary committee with Labor to try to work out next steps for the recognition process but he suggested to the program guest she should be content with Indigenous representation in the parliament rather than advance a proposal creating “in effect” a new chamber.
“I don’t believe our parliament should have any chambers other than the two that it does – the House and the Senate – and they are open to all Australians,” the prime minister said.“I don’t believe our parliament should have any chambers other than the two that it does – the House and the Senate – and they are open to all Australians,” the prime minister said.
“If you set up a chamber, an assembly, and put it in the constitution and you say that it is there to advise the parliament on legislation, then inevitably every piece of legislation will have to go through it,” he said.“If you set up a chamber, an assembly, and put it in the constitution and you say that it is there to advise the parliament on legislation, then inevitably every piece of legislation will have to go through it,” he said.
Turnbull was also confronted by an Iranian boat arrival, who survived his vessel capsizing en route to Australia, and asked how the PM could stand by while detainees on Manus island were “tortured, abused and neglected”. Turnbull was also confronted by an Iranian boat arrival, who survived his vessel capsizing en route to Australia, and asked how the the leader could stand by while detainees on Manus Island were “tortured, abused and neglected”.
The prime minister said “nobody is tortured on Manus” and added the Iranian was lucky to survive his boat trip. The prime minister said “nobody is tortured on Manus” and added that the Iranian had been lucky to survive his boat trip.
How can you stand by and say we are a nation that gives a fair go when you reject asylum seekers that arrive by boat? @TurnbullMalcolm responds #QandA pic.twitter.com/k8th1R4y9rHow can you stand by and say we are a nation that gives a fair go when you reject asylum seekers that arrive by boat? @TurnbullMalcolm responds #QandA pic.twitter.com/k8th1R4y9r
“You signed up with a criminal, a people smuggler to get yourself to Australia, and you nearly lost your life,” the prime minister said. “You signed up with a criminal, a people smuggler, to get yourself to Australia, and you nearly lost your life,” the prime minister said.
“And the reality is this – if we allowed the people on Manus to come to Australia, the boats would start up again”.“And the reality is this – if we allowed the people on Manus to come to Australia, the boats would start up again”.
He said Australia could not put its migration program in the hands of criminals like the person who had arranged the Iranian man’s passage to Australia. “Thank God you survived, but so many others did not.”He said Australia could not put its migration program in the hands of criminals like the person who had arranged the Iranian man’s passage to Australia. “Thank God you survived, but so many others did not.”
“I want to keep Australians safe. I want to keep Australia’s borders secure … I don’t want people to drown again at sea on people smugglers’ boats.”“I want to keep Australians safe. I want to keep Australia’s borders secure … I don’t want people to drown again at sea on people smugglers’ boats.”