Prime Minister Scott Morrison has accused Labor’s Richard Marles of siding with China as foreign policy takes centre stage in the campaign.
It comes after comments Mr Marles made in a book he wrote resurfaced, with the deputy Labor leader’s argument being one of non-interference.
Mr Marles said in the book the Pacific Islands nations should be free to make deals with China, and Australia should not expect to have an exclusive relationship with the island nations. Mr Morrison said Mr Marles “advocated for the Chinese government” to make security pacts – even though Labor has called the Solomon Islands-China agreement a security failure.
“Labor’s deputy leader advancing that about eight months ago, or thereabouts, and then the hypocrisy of trying to criticise the Australian government,” he said. “The Chinese government’s intentions have been clear for many years; we’ve always taken that seriously.”
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