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| Clive Palmer says 'mongrels' tirade was not about China's people | Clive Palmer says 'mongrels' tirade was not about China's people |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Clive Palmer says his tirade on live television during which he referred to Chinese “mongrels” who shoot their own people was aimed at the company he is currently locked in a dispute with, and not the broader Chinese population. | Clive Palmer says his tirade on live television during which he referred to Chinese “mongrels” who shoot their own people was aimed at the company he is currently locked in a dispute with, and not the broader Chinese population. |
| His Palmer United party colleague, Senator Jacqui Lambie, leapt to his defence on Tuesday morning, declaring “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance” and criticising the government and opposition for ignoring an “aggressive … totalitarian foreign power”. | |
| On ABC’s Q&A program on Monday night, the leader of the Palmer United party was asked about allegations he siphoned more than $12m from state-owned Chinese company Citic Pacific, through his Mineralogy company, to his fund his election campaign. Palmer strenuously denied the accusation and repeated his claim that media organisation News Corp is just trying to discredit him. | On ABC’s Q&A program on Monday night, the leader of the Palmer United party was asked about allegations he siphoned more than $12m from state-owned Chinese company Citic Pacific, through his Mineralogy company, to his fund his election campaign. Palmer strenuously denied the accusation and repeated his claim that media organisation News Corp is just trying to discredit him. |
| “It’s not true, it’s false,” he said, accusing the Chinese of wanting to take over Australian ports and control Australian resources. | “It’s not true, it’s false,” he said, accusing the Chinese of wanting to take over Australian ports and control Australian resources. |
| “I don’t mind standing up against the Chinese bastards and stopping them from doing it,” he said. | “I don’t mind standing up against the Chinese bastards and stopping them from doing it,” he said. |
| He then called the Chinese “mongrels,” and when the audience reacted he said: “I’m saying that because they’re communist, because they shoot their own people, they haven’t got a justice system and they want to take over this country.” | He then called the Chinese “mongrels,” and when the audience reacted he said: “I’m saying that because they’re communist, because they shoot their own people, they haven’t got a justice system and they want to take over this country.” |
| On Tuesday morning Palmer took to Twitter to clarify his Q&A comments. | On Tuesday morning Palmer took to Twitter to clarify his Q&A comments. |
| “My #qanda comments not intended to refer to Chinese people but to Chinese company which is taking Australian resources & not paying #auspol,” he wrote. | “My #qanda comments not intended to refer to Chinese people but to Chinese company which is taking Australian resources & not paying #auspol,” he wrote. |
| Palmer told Guardian Australia he was referring “particularly to Chinese government owned state corporations.” | |
| Palmer earned his estimated $1.2bn fortune first through real estate and then mining royalties – mostly through Citic Pacific which is mining iron ore in the Pilbara. He is currently locked in a legal battle with the company over payments. | Palmer earned his estimated $1.2bn fortune first through real estate and then mining royalties – mostly through Citic Pacific which is mining iron ore in the Pilbara. He is currently locked in a legal battle with the company over payments. |
| Lambie released a statement on Tuesday morning saying she “strongly supports” her party leader’s “general point ... about communist China’s military capacity and threat to Australia”. | Lambie released a statement on Tuesday morning saying she “strongly supports” her party leader’s “general point ... about communist China’s military capacity and threat to Australia”. |
| “If there’s one thing I’ve learnt after serving my country in the Australian defence force for 11 years and listening closely to our veterans, it’s this: the price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” Lambie said. | “If there’s one thing I’ve learnt after serving my country in the Australian defence force for 11 years and listening closely to our veterans, it’s this: the price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” Lambie said. |
| “If anybody thinks that we should have a national security and defence policy, which ignores the threat of a Chinese communist invasion – you’re delusional and got rocks in your head.” | “If anybody thinks that we should have a national security and defence policy, which ignores the threat of a Chinese communist invasion – you’re delusional and got rocks in your head.” |
| She said Palmer’s comments were a “timely warning” on national security. | She said Palmer’s comments were a “timely warning” on national security. |
| She added: “Both Labor and the Liberals/Nationals have failed to build an Australian military that is able to defend us - and stop our grandchildren from becoming slaves to an aggressive, anti-democratic, totalitarian foreign power.” | She added: “Both Labor and the Liberals/Nationals have failed to build an Australian military that is able to defend us - and stop our grandchildren from becoming slaves to an aggressive, anti-democratic, totalitarian foreign power.” |
| The treasurer, Joe Hockey, told media in Canberra on Tuesday that Palmer’s comments were “hugely damaging”. | The treasurer, Joe Hockey, told media in Canberra on Tuesday that Palmer’s comments were “hugely damaging”. |
| Hockey said Palmer had been a big beneficiary of Chinese investment. | Hockey said Palmer had been a big beneficiary of Chinese investment. |
| He said: “He is in a very obvious legal dispute with his Chinese partners but I’d say to Mr Palmer, please don’t bring down the rest of Australia because of your biases.” | He said: “He is in a very obvious legal dispute with his Chinese partners but I’d say to Mr Palmer, please don’t bring down the rest of Australia because of your biases.” |
| The foreign minister, Julie Bishop, told 3AW radio Palmer’s comments were “offensive, unnecessary and unacceptable for a member of parliament to make” and that it was not appropriate to “vent his bitterness” over a business deal on national TV. | The foreign minister, Julie Bishop, told 3AW radio Palmer’s comments were “offensive, unnecessary and unacceptable for a member of parliament to make” and that it was not appropriate to “vent his bitterness” over a business deal on national TV. |
| Opposition leader Bill Shorten described the comments as “irresponsible and certainly not in Australia’s best interests.” | |
| “China is one of our most important relationships and unwarranted sprays like this are not helpful at all,” he said in a statement to Guardian Australia. “I think a lot of Chinese-Australians would understandably feel hurt by these comments. We’ve come a long way as a proud multicultural nation and these comments are unacceptable.”Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said Palmer’s comments were unhelpful to the “important” relationship with China. | |
| Bowen said the comments showed an intersection between Palmer’s business dealings and his parliamentary ones. Chinese-Australian relations are “vitally important” both economically and strategically, said Bowen. | |
| “It’s important that while we all engage in proper and robust free speech and debate that we treat Chinese companies, people and the government with respect. I think Mr Palmer’s comments were unhelpful in that regards, and while they are a matter for him they can’t be endorsed or agreed with.” | |
| Western Australia premier Colin Barnett said Palmer is an “embarrassment” and displayed “the worst of Australia,” damaging the relationship with China and the mining industry. Barnett has previously criticised Palmer’s dealings with Citic Pacific as damaging to the Australian economy. | |
| On Tuesday he said he would issue an apology to the Chinese embassy and repudiate Palmer’s comments. |