Editorial: Palaszczuk will need to reassure Chinese buyers we remain a dependable trade partner

China needs what Australia – and Queensland – has to sell so it makes perfect sense for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to visit the trading superpower later this year, writes the editor.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to visit China later this year is an excellent idea.

It’s easy to dismiss such trips as little more than publicly funded junkets and opportunities for some stage-managed media coverage in exotic locations.

But there are times when leader-to-leader meetings are important, especially when, in this case, it involves Queensland’s biggest trading partner.

And if ever there were a time for the Premier to be out there personally reinforcing Queensland’s global reputation as a reliable provider of all the things China buys from us – from coal and energy and beef to education and tourism – this is it.

Before the trade war that erupted in mid-2020 when China objected to Australia’s part in pushing for an inquiry into its role in the Covid-19 epidemic, Queensland’s exports to China were close to $30bn a year.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s willingness to have the media join her on he China trip is to be commended. Picture: Liam Kidston

By early 2022, they had fallen by almost 50 per cent – to less than $16bn.

Pre-Covid, and before international border closures, China had also been far and away Queensland’s biggest source of international students and tourists.

But in recent months, the trade cold war has begun to thaw – due in part to a change of government federally, but also for the undeniable fact that China needs what Australia, and Queensland, has to sell.

Our exports to China have begun to pick up again, to about $19bn by January this year.

But we clearly have a lot of ground to recover.

And even if the Covid-sparked trade war with China might be winding down, it’s clear that international buyers of Australian resources – including Queensland coal and LNG – are increasingly worried by recent changes to Australia’s national energy policy.

Victoria’s Daniel Andrews was the only state premier to sign up for China’s contentious Belt and Road initiative. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Valeriu Campan

These include the Albanese government’s recent deal with the Greens on the safeguard mechanism to manage greenhouse gas emissions and its latest tweaks to the laws around ensuring sufficient domestic gas supply.

There’s also the Queensland government’s out-of-the-blue announced last year to suddenly increase coal royalties, an announcement that spooked international investors and customers alike.

And that’s where the Premier’s planned trip to China in October comes in.

Relationships and bridges need to be reinforced and, in some cases, rebuilt at the highest level. Ms Palaszczuk will need to reassure Chinese buyers of our coal and LNG that despite these various changes, Queensland remains a dependable trade partner.

The Premier should also be commended for maintaining the past practice of allowing the media to join her on her trip to China.

It’s an undeniable fact that China needs what Australia, and Queensland, has to sell. Picture: Getty Images

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews shot off to China for a surprise, six-day trip last week, without inviting the media.

“Nothing to see here,” was his defence.

And he does have a point. Ministerial overseas visits are typically tightly controlled events offering little more than photo opportunities in exotic locations.

But still, secrecy is a bad look at the best of times for any politician, especially one who’s had to fend off long-running claims of being too close to the Chinese.

Mr Andrews, was, after all, the only state premier to sign up for China’s contentious Belt and Road initiative, which would have encouraged Chinese investment in Victorian infrastructure, at least until the Morrison government later cancelled the agreement a couple of years ago.

And so we offer our full support to the Premier for both her decision to travel to China and her willingness to have the media join her.

Transparency is always better than secrecy.

WE STAND WITH EVAN, AND SO SHOULD YOU

Once again, a journalist has been arrested for doing his job.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained in Yekaterinburg in Russia last Wednesday, and is being held in Moscow on trumped-up espionage charges.

US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have called for his immediate release, but so far Russia has dismissed the appeals.

Of course, it suits the Putin regime to stop an experienced, inquiring journalist from doing his job.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Picture: AFP

“Evan is an esteemed, principled journalist and colleague, and has sought to keep the world well informed during a particularly troubled period,” News Corp Chief Executive Robert Thomson said.

The Journal is published by News Corp, which also publishes The Courier-Mail, but all media outlets who truly value freedom of the press are today united in support of Mr Gershkovich.

Journalism, whether in totalitarian countries or in democracies, can make life awkward for those in power.

But that is its purpose.

And that is why we should all stand with Evan.