Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

But that's not enough, because the shadow Treasurer said this: 'The government'—that is, the Liberal-National government—'is being a bit negative about the Belt and Road Initiative.' That's what he said. And then there was when the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party went up to Beijing. You won't be able to find the speech he gave to the Beijing Foreign Studies University; he's taken it off his website! But I'm pleased that Senator Paterson has put it on his website. When he went up there, this is what he said:

Our starting point has to be that we respect China and deeply value our relationship with China. We must seek to build it. And not just in economic terms, but also through exploring political co-operation and even defense co-operation.

He said that as the shadow defence minister. I tell you where I do agree—

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