The Home Affairs Minister has raised questions on Chinese election interference over the timing of the Solomons Islands security deal, but Labor has slammed the suggestion as “unhinged”.
Ms Andrews said the announcement of the security pact between Honiara and Beijing during a campaign cycle was “cause for concern” as she warned China was “clearly very aware” that there was an ongoing election in Australia.
“Even by the incredibly low standards of this government, I thought what Karen Andrews said was remarkably desperate and remarkably unhinged,” the shadow treasurer said.“On a day when inflation is going through the roof, on a day when it becomes clearer than ever that ordinary working families are falling behind and can’t get ahead, it says everything about this government that they want to make a claim like that.
“Now Beijing is clearly very aware that we’re in a Federal Election campaign here at the moment. And now we have a significant focus on what is happening in the Pacific islands, what China is doing.Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said Beijing would be"very aware" of the positions held by shadow ministers on China. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage
Labor deputy leader Richard Marles has recently come under fire for a speech he made in Beijing in 2019 where he called for greater security ties with China. Shadow home affairs minister Kristina Keneally also hit back at her counterpart’s comments and said they were “offered with no proof”.
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