What is it with the ALP and China?
First we have Rudd holding private, undisclosed talks with a Chinese Government minister as reported by Greg Sheridan;
KEVIN Rudd’s semi-secret meeting on Saturday with Li Changchun, the Chinese politburo member in charge of propaganda, media and ideology, is one of the most bizarre episodes of his prime ministership. It is almost certainly more stupid than sinister, but it does raise legitimate questions about Chinese influence in Australia.And this;
Just as they are telling us Chinalco is not directly related to the Chinese Government, the general manager of Chinalco, Xiao Yaqing, has been appointed to the Chinese cabinet.Is followed by reports Joel Fitzgibbon is being investigated for his association with a Chinese born Helen Liu
Reports today claim the Defence Department has been spying on the minister, using the Defence Signals Directorate spy agency to tap into computers in Mr Fitzgibbon’s office to gain information about his relationship with a wealthy Chinese-born Sydney business woman, Helen Liu. KEVIN Rudd says he’ll await the findings of a Defence investigation into claims departmental officials conducted covert inquiries into their minister.Some observations from Christian Kerr; Alexander Downer could be coruscating to his public servants. He would tear strips off them in private – but in public they were always “my hard-working department” The Defence Minister has taken a different approach.
“Have I seen incompetence?” Fitzgibbon asked rhetorically last month as the opposition hammered home its attack on bureaucratic bungling over SAS pay. “Absolutely yes. “Have I seen attempts to nuance information to cover for mistakes? Yes. “Have I seen nuanced information in an attempt to produce outcomes that are more favourable to those who are responsible for the issue? Yes.”And what are we to make of this;
Defence officials also allegedly found Ms Liu’s banking details on the minister’s office IT system.Was it just her BSB and account number and if so, why report it, or was it more? If so, what is going on? I think it unlikely Defence would conduct a security check without cause and I doubt it is all simply based on the fact that Fitzgibbon has a bad habit of blaming his department and calling them incompetent. I will be interested in the developments.
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Awfully off topic but:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lW6Y4tBXs
A speech which needs to be made in our parliament…
What’s with Australian PM having to grandstand with their superpower buddies, like Bush and Little Johnny Howard, and the Rudds and the Reds?
Li Changchun is trying to find out how much Aussie resources China can buy on the cheap. So Rudd told him?!
Why can’t we develop resources ourselves, make a green industry out of it, and export knowledge not dirt.
China is significant for a number of reasons –
It is one of the largest creditor nations on earth.
Chinese investors own much of the US debt.
China’s future investment policies will be a major factor in the pace and extent of any recovery.
China’s purchases of our mineral wealth have been a major contribution to recent economic growth in this country.
So if the ALP seems preoccupied with China, that’s hardly surprising.
“I think it unlikely Defence would conduct a security check without cause and I doubt it is all simply based on the fact that Fitzgibbon has a bad habit of blaming his department and calling them incompetent.”
I don’t. It’s called “getting square”.
I wonder what’s happened to the chain of command doctrine that was drilled into us during training all those years ago?
Remember – “When we say jump – you say how high, and when will I come down?” etc.
Fitzgibbon – like it or not, is the Minister. When the Minister says “jump” to his defence chiefs, their response should be no different. Obviously, a few down the line somewhat are getting square because they don’t like his style.
Stiff bikkies.
Let’s just think about the $500 million a WEEK Rudd is borrowing from China to fund his useless and wasteful ‘stimulus package’.
$500 million a week…
It’s called “getting square” is a just a lefty phrase for those who simply hate the thought that people should be security vetted. Lefties are notorious for siding with the enemy so it makes good sense to me to check the bastards.
China is all of those things you mention..it is also a communist state and has extensive espionage systems throughout the western world. Not just commercial espionage either – we buy state of the art US military equipment and they would like to know more.
Notwithstanding this we can and should deal with them but when the Defence Minister is seen to be very cosy with someone who has the ear of senior Chinese politicians it is not unreasonable that he be checked. We all have to go through security checks as officers, and NCOs – should the Minister be any different?
I definitely don’t like the idea of our politicians, government or opposition, accepting free anything from a foreign power – particularly one with China’s record.
If I applied for a job as a cleaner with DoD, I would be required to complete an extensive security clearance form and would be subject to background checks by the security services before getting the job.
If they came up with a “relationship” with a foreign national with connections to a foreign government, there is no way I would ever get that cleaner’s job.
So how come the Minister, with (I assume) unrestricted access to every Top Secret file in the department, can hold his job without a security clearance?
Are political appointments exempt? Do we just trust in their honesty or just hope they are not beholden to foreign interests?
I fully agree with the DSD’s actions here. There is a very worrying undercurrent of possible divided loyalty with Fitzgibbon, and he should be moved away from any access to information regarding Australia’s national security forthwith.
The DSD’s actions???
If we are to believe what we read no official vetting was sanctioned. It was unauthorised – and as such in breach of the criminal code.
A double standard operates – conservative politicians can be as cosy as they please with foreign powers – labor politicians aren t cut the same slack. It smacks of the right to rule mentality that went out with Bob Menzies.
This is purely an attempt at smear.
I doubt the story as told by the Sydney Moaning Herald is true.
DSD isn’t staffed by rank amateurs with cavalier attitudes to the regulations that govern that agency’s operations.
That Fitzgibbon seems out of his depth as a minister is no surprise, he floundered about in opposition with little to do but read from scraps of paper during question time.
Are some people in the Department of Defence unhappy with Fitzgibbon? Probably.
Would they risk their careers and possible criminal charges to carry out the actions described in the SMH story? Doubtful IMHO.
Has someone briefed a journo at the SMH with a plausible story in order to ‘get’ Fitzgibbon? Very likely.
Do Rudd, Fitzgibbon and the others on the ALP front bench who seem to enjoy a rather lucrative and cosy relationship with a woman who could well be a front for the Chinese government have some explaining to do? You betcha…
Is 17 whatever a tired old lefty with little to contribute? Yes.
Hmmmm, looks like I’m getting the hang of Rudd’s ask your self a question and answer it routine.
Peter Whatever can always be relied upon to throw in a bit of personal abuse when confronted with anyone who disagrees with him.
It changes nothing – nor does it seem to be working for Abbott or Turnbull if you read polls published today.
1735099 wrote in an earlier post:
“I wonder what’s happened to the chain of command doctrine that was drilled into us during training all those years ago? Remember – “When we say jump – you say how high, and when will I come down?” etc. Fitzgibbon – like it or not, is the Minister. When the Minister says “jump” to his defence chiefs, their response should be no different.”
I translate this to mean that an instruction/order given by luminaries such as Cairns, Grassby or Murphy should have been obeyed immediately. IMHO if you believe that you will believe anything.
I feel better knowing our top military men are not, by and large, forelock tuggers and will not instantly and unquestionably obey any and all commands given by the minister.
“I feel better knowing our top military men are not, by and large, forelock tuggers and will not instantly and unquestionably obey any and all commands given by the minister.”
Yes – Especially those relating to the loss of their perks –
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25058416-421,00.html