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Gladys Liu scandal: Australian PM condemns ‘grubby smear’ against MP with links to China’s ‘propaganda arm’
- Hong Kong-born MP was listed as a member of China Overseas Exchange Association and refused to criticise Communist Party in recent interview
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison, however, said the criticism was ‘an insult to every single Chinese-Australian in this country’
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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said accusations that Hong Kong-born MP Gladys Liu has inappropriate links with the Chinese Communist Party are a “grubby smear”, but has refused to confirm whether security agencies have ever raised concerns about her background.
As Labor prepared to target the government for a second day over Liu’s background, the prime minister hit out at the opposition for what he called the suggestion the member for Chisholm was “in cahoots” with China’s government.
“It is a ridiculous suggestion and I think it is an insult to every single Chinese-Australian in this country,” Morrison said. “The Labor Party have to take a good, hard look at themselves as to why they are pursuing this matter.
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“They might want to dress it up as national security, but I think 1.2 million Australians of Chinese heritage get the point.”
Morrison said there was “no credible suggestion” of any inappropriate behaviour in relation to Liu, saying the speculation about her links to the Chinese regime were based on nothing more than a “clumsy interview”.
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