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Government steps up attacks on Labor over China
Defence Minister Peter Dutton sparked outrage by claiming China is backing Labor to win the next election.
Government steps up attacks on Labor over China.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton has claimed Beijing is backing Labor to win the election as the government ramps up attempts to paint Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese as soft on China.
Mr Dutton insinuated Labor had been the target of a foiled plot to plant candidates into parliament at the next election revealed by the nation’s spy boss, sparking an outraged response from the opposition.
“We now see evidence that the Chinese Communist Party, the Chinese government has also made a decision about who they will back in the next federal election, and that is open and obvious,” Mr Dutton said during a fiery question time.
He defended the comments, saying they were a “reflection” of what ASIO chief Mike Burgess had disclosed on Wednesday night.
“Mine is a reflection of the Chinese government, the actions of the Chinese
government,” he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier accused Mr Albanese of being an appeaser towards China, describing the Labor leader as being their candidate.
Mr Albanese and manager of opposition business Tony Burke complained that Mr Morrison and Mr Dutton had breached parliamentary standing orders by accusing the opposition of treason and sedition, but were rebuffed by Speaker Andrew Wallace.
“He should not be permitted to use question time to just make things up,” Mr Albanese said of the PM.
4:45 So the Chinese Communist Party is backing Albanese