Interesting times ahead if your a Western Australian Labor Voter...

Interesting times ahead if your a Western Australian Labor Voter

The WA government appointed two pro-Beijing community leaders to a new paid advisory council before Premier Mark McGowan escalated his criticism of the Morrison government’s handling of the China relationship.

The Labor Premier has become the most outspoken state critic of Australia’s China policy, drawing praise from Beijing and some Australian business leaders who fear their long-term exports are at risk from the collapse in diplomatic relations between the trading partners.

McGowan’s position has been bolstered through key WA community groups backed by influential Chinese businessmen and the Chinese consulate. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week seized upon the foreign policy split between Canberra and Perth.

WA Premier Mark McGowan, centre, with former Chinese consul-general Dong Zhihua, second from right. Australian Chinese Times owner Edward Zhang and Chung Wah president Ting Chen stand behind him, first and second from right. Credit:Chinese Consulate Perth

McGowan sharpened his criticism of the federal government’s relationship with Beijing last Tuesday, saying Australia was acting “against its own interests” and the economic consequences of losing the trading relationship would be “absolutely catastrophic”.

China’s Foreign Ministry hailed the comments, stating the Australian government should “heed these constructive opinions”.

McGowan has been warning the federal government over provoking China as far back as May last year, even offering himself to help rebuild the relationship in December.

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In February, his government appointed Dr Edward Zhang and Dr Ting Chen, as the only two Chinese community representatives, to his 15-member multicultural council, a policy advisory body where members can earn up to $385 per day.

Zhang, who didn’t reply to a request for comment, has condemned the federal government’s position on the disputed South China Sea. “We overseas Chinese are the first line of defence for our motherland,” he said in 2016.

He has also said he would censor any content frowned upon by Beijing in his Chinese-language newspaper, the Australian Chinese Times, including criticism of the government, separatist language and references to the Falun Gong and the Taiwanese independence movement.

Zhang is a founding member and honorary chairman of the WA branch of the Australian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China, a group tied to United Front. The United Front operates overseas networks that mobilise support for the Chinese Communist Party.

Its Sydney president, billionaire political donor Huang Xiangmo, was banned from re-entering Australia in 2019 on advice from intelligence officers.