Not one politician here has picked up the phone to their counterpart in China and hailed them over the coals. Not Elbow, not Marles, not Wong.
Not one of them has hauled the Chinese ambassador into their office and dressed him down. Not one.
Instead they use limp- dick language - "unacceptable", "unprofessional". Well, PM, the Chinese attack was superbly professional. It achieved precisely the result intended. A little man - an accidental PM - quivering in his shoes.
Beijing bullied ADF personnel last October with the sonar incident. They did it again harassing the Sea Hawk. Bullies always know their victims well. Had they harassed a US chopper that way, the fighter would have been splashed a few minutes later. We can't respond the way the US could, but we can do better than stand in the school yard piddling our shorts!
What's the bet that in focus groups for both Parties, when people are asked about word association with the name "Albanese", top of the list is weak. Leak sums it up perfectly today. Australia deserves better than this rabble. We need adults in charge.
