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Jezza
2023 PREMIERS!
Joined: 06 Sep 2010 Location: Ponsford End
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Post subject: Chinese political influence in Australia | |
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Interesting that a thread hasn't been created about this topic, but I thought it would be worth making one to discuss in detail especially with Sam Dastyari finally resigning from the Senate earlier today.
It'd be naive that he's the only bad seed in this situation, but after going against his own party's position on the South China Sea, having a Chinese businessman presumably linked with the Communist Party pay his own personal bills and alerting the same businessman that ASIO may be spying on him in his home, his position in the Parliament was untenable.
The Four Corners program looked into this issue back in June which sparked Turnbull to order an inquiry into espionage and foreign interference laws. I'm hoping a ban on foreign political donations is introduced soon and it's something that will attract bipartisan support from the Parliament.
Interestingly enough, it's been suggested that 80% of all foreign political donations have come from China since 2000 as the article below mentions.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2017/12/10/chinese-donations-australia/
FOUR CORNERS PROGRAM
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/power-and-influence-promo/8579844
What do others make of this? _________________ | 1902 | 1903 | 1910 | 1917 | 1919 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1935 | 1936 | 1953 | 1958 | 1990 | 2010 | 2023 | |
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Dave The Man
Joined: 01 Apr 2005 Location: Someville, Victoria, Australia
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They would have Influence in just about every Goverment in the World.
As most Kiss Chinese Ass _________________ I am Da Man |
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003 Location: Andromeda
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It's good that Dastyari's gone, but the issue is far bigger than just one or more bad apples. Overseas business and diplomatic influence on Australian policy is huge; the only thing that makes this story in any way remarkable is that it's usually the US that our politicians kowtow to, with significant effects on our sovereignty (remember the TPP that almost came to pass?). Of course, Chinese influence on Australian politics has been steadily growing over the past twenty years, and this again goes well beyond Dastyari or even Turnbull (who also posed for happy snaps with the same donor) – it's present at all levels of government, and can be seen immediately in party donations alone. And let's not forget all of the Australian or international companies that wield influence over the government via lobby groups and donations.
The reason Dastyari's actions bothered me is that they seem like a forerunner of a future Australian pro-China pragmatism, in which our major party politics on both sides will be moulded carefully to abide by Chinese hegemony, as a means of preserving our trade partnership and defence strategy.
You could look at Dastyari's resignation as a warning shot, or a line in the sand, but I suspect that economic pragmatism will ultimately trump any nationalist/pro-sovereignty overtures, and within a decade or two we'll be seeing major party politicians do precisely the same things as Dastyari and worse – if the newspapers are permitted to report on it, that is. _________________ All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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thesoretoothsayer
Joined: 26 Apr 2017
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Not too fussed.
We're just slowly exchanging one set of foreign overlords for another.
The new lot may be a bit more prickly (don't mention Tibet) but on the plus side they'll be less middle-eastern wars for us to fight. |
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Mugwump
Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Location: Between London and Melbourne
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thesoretoothsayer wrote: | Not too fussed.
We're just slowly exchanging one set of foreign overlords for another.
The new lot may be a bit more prickly (don't mention Tibet) but on the plus side they'll be less middle-eastern wars for us to fight. |
You say you are “not too fussed” that China, a dictatorship with no traditions of sympathy for our mode of government or the idea of liberty, is displacing the US as an “overlord” in Australia’s affairs.
I find I hard to think that you believe this. Whilst the US is nothing like an overlord at present, it remains to be seen what kind of great power partner China might be. There is no reason to think it likely to be very consonant with our values, or so relatively detached as the US. _________________ Two more flags before I die! |
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thesoretoothsayer
Joined: 26 Apr 2017
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Quote: | Whilst the US is nothing like an overlord at present |
Let's do a thought experiment.
Say I'm the PM of Australia and decide that Pine Gap no longer serves our nation's strategic interest. How long do I get to remain PM?
I'm not saying I'd be assassinated but they'd be a coup within the party and I'd be replaced with a more "suitable" leader. Or perhaps I'd just be sacked by the Govenor-General. |
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stui magpie
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Joined: 03 May 2005 Location: In flagrante delicto
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The US has been an Allie for 70 years.
In 50 years time, our grandkids will be speaking Chinese. They play the long game. _________________ Every dead body on Mt Everest was once a highly motivated person, so maybe just calm the **** down. |
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Mugwump
Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Location: Between London and Melbourne
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thesoretoothsayer wrote: | Quote: | Whilst the US is nothing like an overlord at present |
Let's do a thought experiment.
Say I'm the PM of Australia and decide that Pine Gap no longer serves our nation's strategic interest. How long do I get to remain PM?
I'm not saying I'd be assassinated but they'd be a coup within the party and I'd be replaced with a more "suitable" leader. Or perhaps I'd just be sacked by the Govenor-General. |
I don’t know how long, and nor do you. And of course you would not be sacked by the Governal General, as there would be no constitutional basis for the GG to do so.
If you are saying that our parties (or press) would not support that policy, then that is hardly evidence of “overlordship” (which means something like feudal control) by the US.
Usually your posts make a lot of sense, but I’m not getting this one at all. _________________ Two more flags before I die! |
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swoop42
Whatcha gonna do when he comes for you?
Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Location: The 18
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Andrew Robb negotiated a trade agreement with China and soon after left government for an $880,000 a year consultancy "job" acting in the interests of a Chinese company with close ties to the communist party.
Now that's how you go about playing for the other team and you can bet these two examples are just the tip of the riceberg. _________________ He's mad. He's bad. He's MaynHARD!
Last edited by swoop42 on Wed Dec 13, 2017 1:39 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Culprit
Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Port Melbourne
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Money talks all languages and Huang was dealing with Sam and no surprise Huang had dealings with the Malcolm and Julie Bishop as well. Julie Bishop has come out with "Sam has given away secrets" and "our dealings with Huang are totally different". My view, Sam is a moron and no doubt in the pocket of Huang but he isn't a member of the current Government so I don't know how he can give away Government secrets. As for the dealings are different, that doesn't pass the pub test. Huang was into both sides and as always, one moron has fallen on his sword, another will follow.
What I am more concerned about is leaks to the media about high level operations, these undermine our security organisation. |
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ronrat
Joined: 22 May 2006 Location: Thailand
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stui magpie wrote: | The US has been an Allie for 70 years.
In 50 years time, our grandkids will be speaking Chinese. They play the long game. |
The Chinese or Chinese descent own massive business infrastructure in most Asean countries. Thailand, Indonesia are 2 examples. Where my brother lives in Balikpapan they have a 6 story building with no windows. The Chinese bring out young Chinese women on tourist visas they go in and and are next seen at the airport going home. Not even the Indo Police get in that. They import brides. Cambodia nad Mynanmar will be next. No wonder the Filipinos have issues with building bases on disputed islands. The long game is only at quarter time and they are 10 goals up. Once Amazon etc get established they will bring in Ali Baba etc and smash these organisations like an egg. _________________ Annoying opposition supporters since 1967. |
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003 Location: Andromeda
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swoop42 wrote: | Andrew Robb negotiated a trade agreement with China and soon after left government for an $880,000 a year consultancy "job" acting in the interests of a Chinese company with close ties to the communist party.
Now that's how you go about playing for the other team and you can bet these two examples are just the tip of the riceberg. |
Yep. All business as usual, as far as the government is concerned. _________________ All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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Pies4shaw
pies4shaw
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
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The problem, of course, is that many of our politicians lack skills that can be used to turn a decent living in the real world. Hence, they take these poorly-paid consultancies for pin-money. |
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