Australian PM Scott Morrison slammed for ‘doing Beijing’s work for it’ and mishandling China ties

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong accused Scott Morrison of hewing too closely to US President Donald Trump in declaring China a developed country

She also accused Morrison of echoing Beijing’s propaganda when he dismissed questions about a government MP’s links to the Communist Party as racist

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison makes remarks during a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump (not pictured). Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 2:00pm, 14 Oct 2019Updated: 11:26pm, 14 Oct 2019

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of foreign affairs and the country’s relationship with China was attacked in detail on Monday by a senior member of the opposition Labor Party.

Penny Wong, the shadow minister for foreign affairs, accused Morrison of making decisions against the national interest for “short-term political gain” and for echoing Chinese propaganda by suggesting questions about the Liberal MP Gladys Liu’s links with Beijing were racist.

When Labor pursued Liu in parliament, questioning whether she had inappropriate links with the Chinese Communist Party, Morrison dismissed the questions as a “grubby smear”.

Addressing the Australian Institute of International Affairs, Wong quoted a number of commentators who suggested Morrison had “done Beijing’s work for it” because the Chinese government often deflects criticism or scrutiny of alleged foreign interference with claims of racism.

Penny Wong, the shadow minister for foreign affairs. Photo: EPA-EFE

Wong accused Morrison of being similarly reckless in the handling of the relationship with China when he declared China was a developed country while in the US after attending a rally for President Donald Trump.

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