Former Aussie PM China can't hack
The editorial in the China Daily, however, took a shot at previous prime minister Scott Morrison for not having clear 'judgment and understanding' of the country.
Titled 'Common ground prevails over differences', the editorial was published in China Daily, an English-language news organisation owned by the Chinese Communist Party's Central Propaganda Department.
The release of the editorial coincides with Mr Albanese's planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. Anthony Albanese has embarked on a charm offensive in China, including a meeting with soccer manager Kevin Muscat. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia
'Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ongoing visit to China is not only of significance for the bilateral and trade relations between the two countries, it also sends a message amid the changing global trade landscape,' the editorial started.
'Albanese's visit, which began on Saturday and will last until Friday, is notably long for a state leader, highlighting Australia's commitment to deepening ties and fostering stability amid the uncertain global landscape.' Anthony Albanese and Australian businessman Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest addressed a Steel Decarbonisation Roundtable in Shanghai. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia
It continued on to highlight rising tensions with the US and makes a point of criticising former prime minister Scott Morrison.
'Albanese's visit shows that the Australian side has a clearer judgment and understanding of China than it had under the previous Scott Morrison government,' it said.
Australia's relationship with the superpower soured under the Morrison government after Australia called for an investigation into the origins of Covid.
Tariffs were placed on some of Australia's most significant exports to China, including coal, barley, copper and wine.
The editorial noted that tension but praised the 'positive upturn' in China-Australia relations under the Albanese government as 'desirable' to restart negotiations on a free-trade agreement.
Mr Morrison responded to the comments in a statement made to The Australian.
'Having a character reference from the China Daily was never one of my foreign policy aspirations,' he said. An unexpected comment was reserved for Scott Morrison. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
The China Daily editorial highlighted 'difference in terms of geopolitics' between the two nations but welcomed Mr Albanese's trip.
'Albanese's visit, his second since becoming prime minister, is intended as a 'friendly gesture' to ensure the positive development of bilateral relations on a stable track, according to his office,' it said.
'China, on its part, stands ready to work with Australia to take this visit as an opportunity to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, expand practical co-operation and push forward the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, as the Chinese Foreign Ministry indicated.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
18 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
PM needs to be wary of becoming too reliant on China
While a fair portion of what Peter Hartcher said in his article was fair enough ('' Adolescent' nation coming of age ', July 19), there was no mention of how Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Beijing trip is going to make us even more reliant on China for trade given that Albanese has said this was his main aim. In fact, we are reliant on China for just about everything except food. Our free trade agreements over the years, especially those with China, have successfully killed most of our manufacturing. During COVID, when China decided to punish us instead of doing the hard work of diversifying, our bottom lip started wobbling, we put our cap in our hand and we begged for mercy. Since then, we are even more reliant on China. To be so reliant on any country is stupid, but to be almost totally reliant on a country with a human rights record such as theirs, with such obvious military aspirations, and a country that we see as a possible future enemy, is sheer madness. To me, this is evidence of Australia's continued adolescence. In fact, I think an adolescent would be smarter. Andrew Cronin, Robertson Yes, Australia is being forced to grow out of its adolescence due to Trump's disruption of the world order and the decline of America's central global role. No one, except the myopic opposition, can have any criticism of the way Albanese has been navigating the diplomatic US-China tightrope. His attitude is sensible: 'You don't have time to see me and want to put tariffs on our goods and threaten delivery of the submarines? No problem, we have other friends who want us to join their party.' While the US has been a reliable ally over the past eight decades, its star is waning due to tyranny of distance, its unfettered economic model and its choice of leadership. During this time, a cold, calculated focus on our own long-term self-interest is what Albanese is demonstrating, while not being threatened by pressure from either China or the US. Unless the opposition has a solid game plan to counter the Albo-Wong strategy, it should work with the government to achieve what is best for us. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy Capital gains pains Sorry, William Lloyd (Letters, July 19), but most economists expected a CGT to do what any tax does – discourage people from investing in that area. That is what happened to housing from 1985 to 1988, when the entire economy took off. This lasted just two years and property prices fell and remained low until 1999, when John Howard introduced his 50 per cent discount on the amount taxed for CGT. While I know that correlation does not prove causation, house prices took off immediately on the introduction of that amendment and have continued that upward trajectory for 26 years since. Why income from property profits should be taxed at a fraction of the rate that income from any other source is taxed remains a mystery to me. Barry Harrod, Fig Tree Pocket (Qld) Valid criticism Richard Flanagan expertly draws on Jewish writers to demonstrate the folly if our PM adopted the Segal report's recommendations (' PM must disavow and abandon Segal report ', July 19). Antisemitism, like all other forms of racism, is not supported by most Australians. We are at heart the proud outcome of our indigenous and ethnic diversity. Australia is also a democracy. Criticism of the Israeli state or Zionism is neither antisemitic nor racist. Robbing us of our right to criticise the egregious actions of nation states is tantamount to destroying our own democracy. Do that at your own peril. Brian Barrett, Padstow In Australia 2025, Jewish students are harassed on campus, and Jewish artists and academics – even ones with a history of speaking up for Palestinians – are excommunicated for disagreeing with the modern progressive dogma that Israel is evil. Jewish-owned businesses are vandalised and synagogues are burnt. But we are told by Richard Flanagan that 'leading Jewish figures' such as Louise Adler (who in reality represent a fringe minority of Australian Jews) are calling reports of antisemitism exaggerated. We are told that the IHRA definition of antisemitism says that criticism of Israel is antisemitic, when it explicitly says this is not the case. Gaslighting at its finest. Tim Peach, South Perth (WA) As a child of Holocaust survivors, I believe it is essential that the Executive Council of Australian Jewry condemn the war of annihilation waged by Israel's Netanyahu government against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. It also behoves Jillian Segal, Australia's special envoy to combat antisemitism, to unequivocally condemn the inhumanity of Netanyahu in his ruthless and indiscriminate killing of Palestinian women, children and men according to the false doctrine of 'collective punishment', which is regarded as a war crime by the United Nations and other bodies such as the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and Amnesty International, among others. John-Janusz Ebel, Caulfield North (Vic) Plastic not fantastic Like most Australian consumers, I want to do the right thing when it comes to recycling plastics. So I was horrified, but not altogether surprised, to read Hannah Kennedy's feature (' The plastic that contaminates our recycling stream', July 19). It seems that despite the efforts of people such as me, companies, watchdogs and governments are all dragging the chain when it comes to plastic recycling standards and product symbols. Silly me. Turns out the whole area is a minefield – businesses labelling their products recyclable when they are not, different local councils with different rules, different rules applying to local and overseas markets, products without symbols indicating they can be recycled when they cannot be – and so on. A dog's breakfast, indeed. It's time to fix this problem. Consumers must lobby their elected representatives and boycott companies that make misleading and sometimes dishonest claims about their products. Jane Mundy, Balgowlah According to Hannah Kennedy's article, many of the product symbols commonly used are misleading and incomprehensible. What about simply having 'Recyclable in Australia' shown on all relevant containers and packaging? It would be simple and effective and make it easy for all to do the right thing. Wendy Crew, Lane Cove North Latham can't be avoided Unless a government has an absolute majority, it will need to work with independents and minor party members to get legislation passed, regardless of political persuasion, moral compass or alleged sins of said parliamentarians. Why, then, do we demonise the NSW government for working with Mark Latham on matters of policy and law (' NSW Labor vowed not to work with Latham. The reality is complicated ', July 19)? He is a member of Parliament and as such, his vote counts. The government is not supporting Latham; it is asking him to support them on political matters. I don't see a problem. Gerianne Rudd, Toowong (Qld) We read that Liberal Upper House leader Damien Tudehope worked with Mark Latham to oppose Labor's controversial cuts to the workers' compensation scheme, which seems to have angered Premier Chris Minns. Yet the premier had no qualms about collaborating with the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party to try to push through these same cuts. The premier has opened the door to a plan by Shooters to establish a new 'hunting authority'. Apparently, Latham's alleged personal foibles count for more than the risk of allowing shooters to intrude onto public land and blast away at supposedly 'game and feral animals'. The approval of night shooting and guns with silencers is a chilling prospect. It would not only be a tragedy for wildlife but for unwary members of the public. Shooters will even be paid a bounty for the kill. We presume that won't be paid on people who cop a bullet. Jan O'Leary, Springwood Correspondent Jack Robertson decries the 'wowserish curtain-twitching and public hysteria about private and consensual sexual behaviours' concerning Mark Latham (Letters, July 19). Meanwhile, Latham was found to have defamed lower house MP Alex Greenwich to the tune of $140,000 in damages in a tweet targeting Greenwich over his sexuality. Can your correspondent please clarify the difference between his pearl-clutching concern about Latham's 'private and consensual sexual behaviours' and the aforementioned Mr Greenwich's 'private and consensual sexual behaviours'? Nick Andrews, Bellevue Hill Trump's Achilles Be very careful, Mr Trump ('Trump taunts Murdoch as he files $15b lawsuit over Epstein story', July 19). You may have been able to dismiss some of your loyal followers over the Epstein saga, and even rid yourself of your biggest donor, Elon Musk. However, Rupert Murdoch is another matter altogether. If you alienate Murdoch, keep in mind his empire has been, and will be, there for a lot longer than four years. Perhaps Murdoch's critics might forgive him for everything if he rids the world of this serial pest. Mary Lawson, Marrickville I read that Trump is suing Murdoch for $15 billion for defamation. His lawyers claim a newspaper article 'malign[s] President Trump's character and integrity'. Question: how can a convicted criminal have character and/or integrity worth $15 billion? Peter Duffy, Burra Has Trump finally done something useful in suing Murdoch? Or has Murdoch actually given us some truth in his rags, calling out a convicted criminal? Paul Fergus, Croydon Wow, I almost find myself in the very strange position of wishing Murdoch well. Judy Hungerford, Kew (Vic) Houses of God I think correspondent Jacqui Keats is being rather uncharitable on the subject of churches building high-rise unit blocks (Letters, July 19). Now more than ever, churches need income, especially to house and sustain their ministers and priests, and all the help and succour they give to society besides providing spiritual support to the community. Churches are also suffering the high cost of living and if it means building high-rise apartments, then so be it. Lynne Zahra, Epping Correspondent Tony Doyle wrote that high-rise apartments built by churches were closer to heaven, but with all those extra cars, they will also need deeper basements. It gets satanically hotter parking down there. Yours warmly. Russ Couch, Woonona Respect the planet Millie Muroi has written an important article about the need for 'clear goals' concerning environmental management (' Like ChatGPT, we need clear goals and rules. Otherwise, we could make bad decisions ', July19). After all, if we don't know where we want to go, it doesn't matter which bus we get on. Unfortunately, the goals we espouse involve growth, especially in terms of the economy and population size, both of which being achieved at the expense of the environment. Since this environment provides our life-support system, it is increasingly imperative to address these damaging growth factors and find sustainable, ethical alternatives. Alan Jones, Narraweena At US behest Does anyone believe that the delivery of the 49 Abrams tanks promised to Ukraine was delayed because of 'logistics challenges' (' Australian tanks arrive in Ukraine after nine-month wait ', July19)? I believe it's more likely the nine-month wait was caused by the need to gain Washington's approval. Australia is at the mercy of United States decision makers – or maker. We have out-of-service, US-made Abrams and don't need them. Ukraine does. Australian pledged to help Ukraine, and in October 2024 we said we would send them 49 tanks immediately. The ABC and others report that the United States refused to give us permission to send the tanks to Ukraine. How could Australia have gotten in this deplorable position? Why would our sovereign country need any other country's permission? This raises the question of what else we need permission from the United States for. Carol Dance, Wollstonecraft Ages of consent While many politicians favour lowering the voting age in Australia and elsewhere, there doesn't seem to be a similar enthusiasm for lowering the age at which young people should be treated as adults in court (' Could Australia follow UK's 'shock' move to lower voting age to 16? ' July 19). If 16-year-olds are mature enough to have an equal voice in selecting the government, surely they are mature enough to accept the consequences of their illegal actions as an adult. Or is this lowering of the voting age just pandering for votes rather than a well-reasoned view of maturity? Remember, once the voting age is lowered, there will be no going back. Steen Petersen, Nanaimo (Canada) Not appy, Jen Thank you, Jenna Guillaume (' The app-ocalypse: Please, I beg, don't make me download one more app ', July 19). I find the world of apps exhausting. Like Jenna, I try to avoid them by using my trusty computer, yet somehow I end up with that dreaded word 'app'. Am I sounding like a grumpy old woman? Perhaps I could find an app to help me. Philippa Reiss, Port Macquarie Harmony to discord Best meme from that kiss-cam moment (' CEO of $1.5b tech firm appears caught out on Coldplay 'kiss cam'? July 19)? 'Coldplay haven't released any singles for ages – but they created two last night.' George Zivkovic, Northmead Bastardly act Richard Glover's article about Australian English, including our multiple meanings of the word 'bastards' – from insult to compliment to collective noun – jogged my memory about a story from the 'bodyline' Ashes series in the 1930s (' Do Australians have the best possible version of English? ' July 19). After a particularly acrimonious session, English captain Douglas Jardine stormed into the Australian dressing room to demand an apology after he had been sworn at by an Australian player. Vic Richardson, the Australian captain, called the team together and asked 'which one of you bastards called this bastard a bastard?' Ian Morris, Strathfield
West Australian
18 minutes ago
- West Australian
Labor to act on key cost-of-living promises like 20pc HELP debt wipe-out, paid prac, $150 energy rebate
Australians are weeks away from receiving a 20 per cent cut to their student debt, with Labor vowing to scrap HECS and HELP debt as the government's first priority once parliament resumes, following the government's landslide election victory. The changes will be applied to all student debts as they on June 1, 2025, with the average HELP debt of $27,600 set to receive a reduction of about $5520. The HECS reform will also reduce the repayment threshold for debts from $56,156 to $67,000. Rates of repayments will also be lowered then current levels, with someone on $70,000 paying $1300. Despite the Coalition not supporting the measure during the campaign, education spokesman Jonno Duniam said he expected the Bill to 'pass' parliament. Speaking to the ABC on Sunday, he said that while the legislation would still need to go through party room and shadow cabinet, he believed 'the Australian people spoke pretty clearly … around the policies the Labor Party took,' adding the party was 'not really in the business of standing in the way of cost of living relief'. Labor will also seek to introduce its cost-of-living election promises, including the $150 energy rebate top up, the 30 per cent discount on home batteries, paid prac measures for student nurses, teachers, social workers and midwives, plus a $10,000 cash bonus for trainee builders who finish their construction apprenticeship. It will also begin work on legislating a two-week increase for Government Paid Parental Leave and laws to add superannuation on government paid parental leave, while also increasing the Super Guarantee to 12 per cent. Education Minister Jason Clare will also use the first sitting week to introduce Bills to tighten protection settings in childcare centres, including provision to allow anti-fraud officers to inspect centres with a warrant or police supervision. The Coalition has also said it's open to working with the government to get the Commonwealth to pull funding on centres which fail to meet safety standards after a Victorian former childcare worker Joshua Brown was hit with more than 70 child abuse charges. While Labor holds a thumping 94-seat majority, out of a total 150 seats, in the Lower House, the government will still need to negotiate with either the Greens (which hold 10 seats), the Coalition's 27 senators, or the 10-member crossbench. After an election bloodbath, the Coalition will return with a significantly reduced 43 seats, while the Greens have been reduced to a single seat. Ahead of the official opening of the 48th parliament, Sussan Ley warned that while the Coalition would 'provide a constructive path for any legislation that makes Australia stronger,' it's 'good will is not a blank cheque'. As it stands, the opposition has already vowed to fight Labor's proposed superannuation tax on balances over $3m, with the Coalition also set to eye accidentally released treasury advice to Jim Chalmers which urged him to consider new taxes to increase the budget outlook. 'Anthony Albanese is yet to explain why his departmental officials secretly advised the Treasurer that Labor would need to raise taxes on Australians,' the Opposition Leader said. 'We will seek answers on behalf of Australian taxpayers, not one of whom should face a new tax that they didn't vote for.' It will also continue to attack Labor over its handling of Australia-US relations, following further fallout from Donald Trump's tariff trade war, with Anthony Albanese yet to secure a meeting with the US President.
Perth Now
18 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Huge cost-of-living move coming this week
Australians are weeks away from receiving a 20 per cent cut to their student debt, with Labor vowing to scrap HECS and HELP debt as the government's first priority once parliament resumes, following the government's landslide election victory. The changes will be applied to all student debts as they on June 1, 2025, with the average HELP debt of $27,600 set to receive a reduction of about $5520. The HECS reform will also reduce the repayment threshold for debts from $56,156 to $67,000. Rates of repayments will also be lowered then current levels, with someone on $70,000 paying $1300. Despite the Coalition not supporting the measure during the campaign, education spokesman Jonno Duniam said he expected the Bill to 'pass' parliament. Labor will pursue action on its election vows to slash student debts and introduce paid prac ahead of parliament returning on Tuesday. NewsWire/ Nicholas Eagar Credit: NewsWire Speaking to the ABC on Sunday, he said that while the legislation would still need to go through party room and shadow cabinet, he believed 'the Australian people spoke pretty clearly … around the policies the Labor Party took,' adding the party was 'not really in the business of standing in the way of cost of living relief'. Labor will also seek to introduce its cost-of-living election promises, including the $150 energy rebate top up, the 30 per cent discount on home batteries, paid prac measures for student nurses, teachers, social workers and midwives, plus a $10,000 cash bonus for trainee builders who finish their construction apprenticeship. It will also begin work on legislating a two-week increase for Government Paid Parental Leave and laws to add superannuation on government paid parental leave, while also increasing the Super Guarantee to 12 per cent. Education Minister Jason Clare will also use the first sitting week to introduce Bills to tighten protection settings in childcare centres, including provision to allow anti-fraud officers to inspect centres with a warrant or police supervision. The Coalition has also said it's open to working with the government to get the Commonwealth to pull funding on centres which fail to meet safety standards after a Victorian former childcare worker Joshua Brown was hit with more than 70 child abuse charges. While Labor holds a thumping 94-seat majority, out of a total 150 seats, in the Lower House, the government will still need to negotiate with either the Greens (which hold 10 seats), the Coalition's 27 senators, or the 10-member crossbench. Politicians are set to return to Canberra on Tuesday for the first sitting fortnight of the 48th parliament. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia After an election bloodbath, the Coalition will return with a significantly reduced 43 seats, while the Greens have been reduced to a single seat. Ahead of the official opening of the 48th parliament, Sussan Ley warned that while the Coalition would 'provide a constructive path for any legislation that makes Australia stronger,' it's 'good will is not a blank cheque'. As it stands, the opposition has already vowed to fight Labor's proposed superannuation tax on balances over $3m, with the Coalition also set to eye accidentally released treasury advice to Jim Chalmers which urged him to consider new taxes to increase the budget outlook. 'Anthony Albanese is yet to explain why his departmental officials secretly advised the Treasurer that Labor would need to raise taxes on Australians,' the Opposition Leader said. 'We will seek answers on behalf of Australian taxpayers, not one of whom should face a new tax that they didn't vote for.' It will also continue to attack Labor over its handling of Australia-US relations, following further fallout from Donald Trump's tariff trade war, with Anthony Albanese yet to secure a meeting with the US President.
