Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our nation's greatest challenge is to resolve the China question. I am deeply concerned about reports that Chinese operatives have sought to infiltrate the Australian Labor Party ahead of this year's federal election.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't know how to interpret the interjections from across the House. They may not be concerned, but I am. I'm also concerned that the Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece, the Global Times, has now endorsed Anthony Albanese, the Leader of the Opposition, as our next Prime Minister. Labor retort that they have been acting all along in the spirit of bipartisanship, but, when the Leader of the Opposition criticises the government and then calls for a relationship reset, that is not bipartisanship. When the Leader of the Opposition decides to ask China to stop not all but some coercive measures being inflicted on our nation, that is not bipartisanship. When the Deputy Leader of the Opposition calls for greater military cooperation with China, I can assure you that is not bipartisanship. If anything, it is weakness, and it is no wonder the Global Times is backing them in.