Jim Chalmers has a PhD in political science, so he wasn't that much of a spotty kid.
Not too many like Gina, that's common knowledge. Even her kids are not necessarily keen. Her late husband Frank Rinehart was apparently disbarred in the US and was some kind of a fanatic on social theory, which he seems to have applied in the domestic setting. disallowed/business/the-man-who-came-between-gina-and-her-father-20120622-20tll.html
Rinehart has influence being the richest Australian, but is she liked? That's a different question entirely. People are scared of her that's for sure. She got a megaphone out to chant Axe the Tax in front of apparently hired protesters and it dominated the news. She tried to either gain control or influence over various media. She doesn't go quietly.
Burying the Mineral Resource Rent tax or having had the guts ripped out of it, the effect is the same. Gina is a force to be reckoned with.
Not apparently scared, is Chalmers. I've warned about the FIRB and the national security aspects several times most thought I was imagining things. I don't think they will strike the deal down, as foreshadowed they may impose conditions. If not they can outright ban sales to China.
What matters is where the Li ends up.
TBH I don't understand why the paranoia, the mine won't be producing any earlier whoever they do advance sales of of take with. For strategic reasons, it just essential to be with the Americans. That's the reality.
I don't understand why this is being ignored. The trade war with China was Turnbull's effort. This is indisputable. Anyone who wants the Li to go to China needs to think about the mistakes made by Bob Menzies in 1938 about exporting pig iron to Japan when it was building up its war machine and had already invaded China with shocking results.
I don't see anyone walking away from the deal all the parties want the Li too badly. As others point out and I have done so repeatedly, it's in an ideal location and the amount of Li involved is huge. Gina just doesn't like being told what to do. And IMO she is about to be told. Nobody in the LNP except that twerp in Armidale will want to get the Americans seriously offside again after the Darwin port debacle. The WA government is working on developing critical minerals onshore.
This is too big to just wave through and look the other way.
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