An Australian businessman has contacted the Foreign Minister to see if Labor would be interested in purchasing a set of islands less than 1,000 kilometres from Cairns - but he could be forced to sell to Chinese buyers after failing to get a response back.
Retired entrepreneur Ian Gowrie-Smith is selling 21 atolls, also known as the Conflict Islands, situated in the Coral Sea and off the Papua New Guinea coast.
Retired Australian businessman has offered the government to purchase his Conflict Islands near Australia but is yet to hear back as he revealed his agents could see it to China. Picture Nine "Where is the press conference today from the Foreign Minister Penny Wong? They were all set for day nine on Scott Morrison but where was the press conference addressing this problem?" he questioned to viewers."This is clearly a potential risk to our national security. And those who monitor China’s moves in the region share that fear."
The islands are situated 940 kilometres from northern Cairns and has sparked new concerns of a naval or military base being built close to Australian shores. The 74-year-old businessman was not sure if a purchase from Beijing would be"strategic in nature" but knows they have the money to acquire Conflict Islands.
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