Then and now: Nick X’s changing stance on China, and a surprise wedding in the Liberal ranks
Then and now – Nick X’s changing China stance; a surprise wedding in Liberal ranks; and at last, a date for the great Marshall v Malinauskas face-off. It’s all in this week’s Off The Record.
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In this week’s Off The Record, we look at Nick Xenophon and his evolving stance on China, a wedding surprise for a Liberal senator and, finally, a date for the much-anticipated Marshall V Malinauskas stoush.
Mr X’s China syndrome
Once upon a time, Nick Xenophonwas a renowned political stuntman who grabbed every possible opportunity to push ideological causes, including a firm commitment to Australian-made products.
But, in recent weeks, Mr X has ended a public silence he imposed after his 2018 state election implosion to act for embattled Chinese-owned telecommunications company Huawei in his renewed legal role.
This week, he seized upon the United Kingdom’s decision to allow Huawei to help build its 5G network, fuelling a fresh bid to overturn the federal government’s 2018 ban of the firm from Australia’s 5G network architecture.
His staunch advocacy for the Chinese-owned firm is a contrast to previous warnings about Chinese influence, during the latter part of his 20-year career in state and federal parliaments. Xenophon this week said “the UK made a decision based on the facts, not on smear and innuendo which has been the case here in Australia”.
In 2017, Xenophon warned Australia was at risk if US/China tensions triggered war.
“Furthermore, using the line and military strategy attributed to Sun Tzu, China may decide to ‘kill the chicken to scare the monkey’, or sink an Australian vessel to warn off the United States navy,” Mr X said.
In April, 2016, he urged the blocking of the sale of SA-based cattle company S.Kidman & Co to a consortium involving billionaire Gina Rinehart and Chinese tycoon GUI Guojie, warning it was “selling Australia’s largest farm”. Mr X also warned his potential support for one of the major parties at the-then forthcoming federal election could “absolutely’’ be contingent on blocking the Kidman deal. Later that year, Mr X lashed a Defence department decision to buy uniforms from China, having awarded a contract to a Melbourne-based firm that outsourced manufacturing to that country.
In 2010, Xenophon warned of the dangers of Chinese food imports undercutting local producers.
Wedding Antics
A rookie Liberal senator for South Australia delighted family last week when he got married.
Former lawyer Alex Antic, 45, tied the knot with corporate legal eagle Edwina Storer, 31, at their Eastern suburbs home last Saturday night.
The bride stunned in a Alexis George white lace dress while her husband cut a dashing figure in a dinner suit. They dated for three years after meeting at an Adelaide legal firm.
It was an intimate affair with 25 guests, who were mainly family as well as “couple” of friends each including fellow Liberal MP Tony Pasin. The former Adelaide City Councillor told Off the Record of his pride at finally getting married.
“Punching above my weight doesn’t quite do it justice. I feel like Mr Bean getting into the ring with Ivan Drago from Rocky 4,” he quipped about the Dolph Lundgren character.
Before winning the Liberals’ third Senate ticket spot at last year’s federal election Antic was a commercial lawyer with firm Tindall Gask Bentley. He said the pair would honeymoon at a later date when parliament wasn’t sitting.
SA lawyer new Young Libs leader
In a first, Adelaide lawyer Jocelyn Sutcliffe has become the new federal president of the Young Liberals. The breakthrough being that no other SA woman has previously held the role.
Sutcliffe may be new to the job but she’s already delivering polished lines, nominating protecting ‘Australian culture’ and ‘western traditions’ and strong economic management as her top priorities. “If we uphold these institutions and our principles, the Liberal Party can remain Australia’s natural party of government,” Sutcliffe told Off the Record.
Unsurprisingly, and despite his many recent stumbles, she backed Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy
Liberal Leader Josh Frydenberg’s leadership as “outstanding”. Sutcliffe works as an associate for Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers, the same firm where SA senator Alex Antic previously worked, and where one of the frontrunners to take Cory Bernardi’s Senate spot for the Liberals, Morry Bailes, currently works.
Sales job
Lawyer Morry Bailes is going all out to win the Senate seat vacated by departing ex-Lib Cory Bernardi. Bailes has compiled a glossy 16-page brochure for preselectors who are about to decide whether he or Andrew McLachlan is sent to Canberra.
Bailes lists some impressive backers. Although that does include finance minister Mathias Cormann, who supported Peter Dutton for PM and ended up on the losing side. State Parliament will hold a joint sitting Thursday to confirm SA’s next senator.
Rising Don
Labor powerbroker Don “The Godfather” Farrell has experienced several highs and lows during a lengthy political career but, in the words of his namesake, revenge is a dish best served cold.
Farrell was replaced as Labor’s deputy Senate leader after last year’s election disaster by Kristina Keneally, yet his star has soared in recent times.
As Labor’s sport spokesman, he has been the driving force behind the sports grants scandal enveloping Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie.
Hot date
Finally. The white smoke has been spotted rising out of the chimneys of parliament on North Terrace. Yes, Premier Steven Marshall and Labor leader Peter Malinauskas have agreed on a date for their keenly awaited debate at the SA Press Club.
And it’s possibly the most appropriate date in the history of all political debates, going all the way back to that first one between Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus. It’s April 1.
April fool’s Day is the date to mark in your calendar.
At least it makes it easy for headline writers.
