From George Christensen MP

Dear Subscriber First Name,

The greatest challenge approaching Australia and the West is that of dealing with Communist China’s growing ambition to become the dominant geopolitical force in the world.

We could probably live with China being significantly economically superior (as we do with the USA) and we could even live with them brutalising their own citizens (as they do with Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, Uighur Muslims and Hong Kong pro-democracy activists), albeit with ongoing expressions of concern.

What we can’t live with is an authoritarian regime seeking to control us and our neighbours through economic and political means.

If you don’t understand what I mean by that, then you need to read Professor Clive Hamilton’s book Silent Invasion: China’s Influence in Australia. Prof Hamilton has provided a submission to the parliamentary inquiry I’m chairing that is looking into Australia’s trade and investment relations with China, in which he says:

The PRC is the world’s leading practitioner of “economic statecraft” — the use of economic power to coerce other nations to adopt political positions agreeable to Beijing. Beijing’s strategy of “killing the chickens to scare the monkeys” describes highly publicised attacks on individual countries or businesses to deter others. Onlookers are liable to say to themselves: “Thank goodness it’s not us. What must we do to make sure we aren’t next?”

That’s an apt description of how China is misusing its power and it’s a key part of the reason why recent changes and statements have been made by the Morrison Liberal National Government, which you will read about in this newsletter. If you want to have your say on these matters (and in my inquiry) you can still go to www.ChinaInquiry.com.au and fill in a survey form as well as write to my parliamentary committee that is conducting the inquiry.

The war on Western civilisation

Something has to be said about the black-armband brigade who took to our streets in the past few weeks, protesting about an event that occurred in the USA.

As tragic as that event was, we don’t have the same poor race relations that appear to dog America, despite the claims of far left protesters who were on the streets in most capital cities of this country, gathering in masses despite public health warnings to the contrary.

I lambasted them in federal parliament earlier this month on that front.

Public health warnings aside, the people marching in the streets seem to have a vitriolic hatred for the very society, culture and heritage that has allowed them the freedom to march and the freedom to speak out against authority.

The calls to take down statues of founding fathers and significant figures in our nation’s history (and the history of the West) and then to scrub out ‘offending’ cultural gems such as Gone with the Wind and an episode of Fawlty Towers led me to believe that these protesters are nothing more than a cultural Marxist version of the Taliban.

Indeed, Christian commentator Bill Muehlenberg states: “This is a war on history and on Western civilisation. And what we have is a New Taliban that is fully behind it all.” You can read his full commentary here.

Yours truly,

George Christensen MP

Tough new measures to protect us

The Morrison Government’s foreign investment reforms are a very welcome step in the right direction for our nation. Their purpose is to safeguard Australia against strategic foreign investment and interference.

Make no bones about it, these laws are all about protecting us from the economic threats of the Chinese Communist Party.

Under the new framework, foreign investors will be subject to a national security test to protect Australia’s sensitive national assets, whatever their value; and the Treasurer will have the power to review acquisitions that raise national security risks. Industries deemed 'sensitive' are energy, telecommunications, utilities, defence and security, and any others at the Treasurer’s discretion.

If this framework had been in place earlier it would most likely have stopped the sale of the Port of Darwin to China.

These reforms are a terrific step in the right direction. The Government will release exposure draft legislation for consultation in July, with the reforms scheduled to commence on January 1, 2021.

Disgraceful move by super funds

Australian super funds have set up shop in China. They’re gambling the retirement savings of hardworking Australians by placing our money in the hands of a communist regime that’s waging an economic war with our nation.

It’s time to hold our Aussie super funds to account.

I delivered this speech in parliament last week asking super funds to stop investing in China and look at investing more in Australian agriculture and other strategic industries so we remain in control of our assets.

Foreign Minister points the finger at China in ANU speech

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, made strong statements about China in a foreign policy speech to the Australian National University last Tuesday. In the speech the Minister warned Chinese disinformation was undermining democracy and creating a climate of fear.

She said Australia would prioritise links with partners that protect sovereignty, curb excessive use of power, advance human rights, and set standards in health, transport and communications.

You can read the speech here, watch it here, or read about it in this article (with paywall) from The Australian.

Beyond the fake news…

Beyond the mainstream media we discover the truth. Here’s what I’ve been reading:

As we come out of the mess of this global pandemic, government must take a more hands-on role in steering our economy than what the Liberal Party (and even the National Party) normally think appropriate.

That doesn’t scare me. In fact, I embrace it. We must do more when it comes to both agriculture and manufacturing. This article really does outline my economic philosophy when its states: “When conservatives support an active governmental role in promoting our national industry and protecting our workers, we are not betraying our conservative heritage — we're honouring it.”
 
Some wonder why I fret about the Chinese Communist Party. Well I fret because they use trade as a weapon against us, they use foreign investment as control, they commit human rights abuses of the worst kind, but mostly because I see dark clouds forming. As counter-extremism expert Maajid Nawaz states “… China is preparing for war: total, not limited war.”
 
There are already flash points for conflict with Communist China involving India, involving Taiwan, and involving Hong Kong.
 
In the spare time I don’t have, I’m trying to get through a classic; the Hayes’ translation of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. The book is seen by many as a practical manual on the ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism.

Contained within it are great pearls of wisdom including this one: “The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”