Federal MP Pushes for “China Inquiry” on Australian Trade Relations
Queensland-based member of Parliament, George Christensen, has allegedly bypassed colleagues to send..
Queensland-based member of Parliament, George Christensen, has allegedly bypassed colleagues to send a letter to the Canberra-based Chinese ambassador on May 13, inviting the embassy to make submissions to the recently established “China Inquiry.”
The federal member for Dawson, Christensen was a major driver for establishing the Inquiry into Diversifying Australias Trade and Investment Profile, dubbed the “China Inquiry” which will look into whether Australia is too reliant on one trading partner for exports and whether it relies too heavily on foreign investment.
Federal colleagues allegedly did not approve the letter being sent; however, Christensen later sent the letter on his own behalf, addressing it to ambassador Cheng Jingye.
His letter made note of the ambassadors comments regarding a boycott of Australian goods by Chinese people, and the regimes actions affecting local barley and beef exports.
“Given this, you may consider appearing before a future hearing of the inquiry to explain the current policies and attitude of the PRC regarding its economic relationship with Australia,” he wrote in the letter.
The deadline for public submissions is April 9, 2020.
Christensen has been an outspoken critic of Australias economic reliance on China. In a May 12 sitting of Parliament, he said Australia was at a “crossroads” and it could either give in to the communist regimes “threats,” or it could stand up for its “sovereignty and economic independence.”
He emphasised the inquiry was designed to give the Australian public an opportunity to have their say on the matter.
“With more than 36 percent of our exports being sold to China, representing 7.9 percent of Read More – Source
