The Chinese-Australian community’s votes are a hot ticket, so why are politicians keeping them at arm’s length?
- The growing number of ethnic Chinese voters means Australia’s Labor and Liberal parties are courting them actively but cautiously, for fear of being labelled as pro-Beijing
- But years of underrepresentation in Parliament and being treated largely as fundraising ‘cash cows’ has made the community doubt that politicians have their interests at heart
The remarks by the leader of the centre-right Liberal Party – who is hoping for a return to the top office in Australia’s May 18 federal election – tanked with Chinese-Australian social media users.
The comments served to remind Chinese-Australians of how they have long been treated by Australia’s major political parties as fundraising cash cows, or as “cannon fodder” candidates for unwinnable races rather than serious contenders, said Jieh-Yung Lo, a political commentator and former deputy mayor of a Melbourne city council.
“This is a perception we have struggled to shake off, and as a result it has undermined our ability to have our voices heard and be taken seriously,” he said.
Similarly, while Australia has welcomed financial engagement with China, its biggest trading partner, fears about Beijing’s influence in Australian politics have been a constant in public debate in recent years.
Morrison’s attempt to salvage his gaffe at a campaign stop in Sydney’s Chinatown the next day was emblematic of this balancing act. Rather than address the Chinese-Australian community’s concerns, the prime minister chose instead to discuss Canberra’s economic relationship with Beijing, calling it “codependent”.