China Matters’ activities are seen as being deeply problematic
China Matters says it is independent, but we live in an era when intelligence agencies are warning of the propaganda and influencing efforts by China which are at play in Australia.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
China Matters says it is an independent policy institute working to stimulate a “realistic and nuanced discussion’’ on China within Australia’s “business, government and the security establishment.’’
In Canberra, their activities are increasingly viewed as lobbying efforts which work more in Beijing’s favour than in Australia’s.
This is deeply problematic in an era when intelligence agencies are warning of the large-scale propaganda and influencing efforts by China which are at play in Australia.
The think tank is sponsored mainly by large businesses who make a lot of money out of dealing with China, including mining giant Rio Tinto, and the Star Entertainment Group, who make a fortune from Chinese tourists.
Pushing an overt agenda is not unusual – diplomats do it every day, as China Matters’ founding chair Linda Jakobson herself has correctly noted.
And while no one is - publicly - accusing China Matters of being agents of foreign influence, there is deep concern in Canberra about some of its positions.
It claims not to have an institutional view, but clearly pushes for closer alignments between Australia and China.
This has included an exhortation for the Government to “go further’’ than its tentative Belt and Road deal involving third countries.
The Morrison Government and Albanese Federal opposition have rejected Belt and Road as a foreign policy proposition.
In 2018, Ms Jakobson made a submission to a Parliamentary inquiry pushing back against the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme.
She was at pains to say it was her personal opinion – but submitted it on China Matters letterhead, signed as director and founding chair of the think tank, and said it was supported by six board members.
The Government is baffled as to why the Attorney General’s department was paying China Matters $375,000 at the same time the organisation was pushing back against the Attorney-General’s own legislation.
It would be wrong to argue that the Government should only give money to those who support it – that would make Australia no better than China. Charities and welfare agencies who receive government funding routinely criticise and lobby the Australian Government, as they should.
But in reality times have changed since China Matters secured funding agreements from five government departments.
Those deals, starting in 2015 and 2016, were made under different bureaucrats in the era of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and have so far reached $1.86 million, with more to come.
The relationships between China Matters and the Government has not withstood the change to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, nor the deteriorating relationship between China and Australia.
Originally published as China Matters’ activities are seen as being deeply problematic
Albo’s bold move on housing crisis
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make another attempt to pass Labor’s signature housing policy, which aims to help 40,000 Aussies get on the housing ladder.
Read more
Simple phone change will protect domestic violence victims
Australians fleeing domestic violence will no longer have to contact their perpetrator to separate joint phone or internet accounts under sweeping reforms to protect women trying to restart their lives away from harm.
Read more