Letters: China trading on bullying

Readers have their say on China’s trade threats to Australia, the politics of keeping COVID-19 out of Queensland, and how to erase history.

IT IS about time the Australian government sent a strong message to the Chinese Communist Party that using trade to bully others is unacceptable and does have consequences.

The latest inquiry by the Chinese into the alleged dumping of Australian wine into the Chinese market (C-M, Aug 19) is just another example of this behaviour, following their actions against Australian beef and barley.

So far Australia has been quite resilient and tolerant and refused to become involved in tit-for-tat diplomacy but the time has come to put an end to this behaviour.

Considering China imports huge quantities of Australian minerals and agricultural products, it is time that the federal government established an inquiry to determine if the return to the Australian taxpayer from this trade is sufficient.

Any inquiry would need to establish whether prices need to be substantially increased to benefit the bottom line of the Australian economy, especially at a time when our economy has been taking a hit from COVID-19, which of course came from China.

Furthermore, the Australian government should review Australia’s foreign investment rules and ban investments in domestic real estate from all countries that provide no reciprocity for investment in their real estate.

This would be accompanied by more stringent consideration of investments by foreign interests in essential Australian industries and infrastructure.

The Chinese government is entitled to examine its conditions of trade with its trading partners but that also applies equally to its trading partners.

Geoff Roberts, Brendale

SOME years ago, sitting in a so-called five-star hotel in Beijing, I was served a Chinese red wine.

This was not of my choice, and I can tell you it was dreadful.

But thankfully Jacobs Creek had a trade showing of their Australian wines in the hotel foyer.

I rushed out and paid the equivalent of $35 for one of their delightful reds. The night was saved.

If China wants to browbeat our sensational wine industry with bullyboy tactics it is the loser because the Chinese obviously don’t have a respectable palate to enjoy our superb wines.

Our reds with their smooth and clean bouquets, intense berry and chocolate. Our whites glowing in their yellow-green with tangy fruit.

Yes, China will be the biggest loser and we will have more of our own fantastic wines to ourselves.

John Shea, Oxley

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PREMIER SHOWS STRENGTH

A POLITICAL truism is that conservative politics is the refusal or rejection of the collective rights of the hoi polloi against the historical institutional rules set down by the socially powerful.

Within this chasm is the tidal tug of the wishes of the people and the laws of the land and their unbending lawmakers.

Columnist Paul Williams, in “Best laid schemes of mice and mind games” (C-M, Aug 19), aptly characterises the current predicament that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk finds herself in, the chasm between protecting the public from interstate incursions of the enemy virus and the heated pressings of business, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington to recklessly open the borders.

Palaszczuk is exhibiting a strength of character and administration that, as Williams concludes, should see her win the next election with an enhanced majority.

She is doing this with the health and welfare of all Queenslanders in mind.

Michael Henderson, Maroochydore

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HOW TO ERASE HISTORY

WHY the furore about the change of place names which have an association with slavery, “blackbirding” or the original convicts (C-M, Aug 18)?

It will not erase history.

Students, particularly at primary school level, have no idea about Australia’s past, pleasant or unpleasant.

Remember former prime minister John Howard, who had Australian history put back in its rightful place in the school curriculum, only to see it all but taken out after he left office.

Don’t teach it. That’s how you erase history.

Peter Haslett, Cashmere

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TRUMP DENIGRATED

IT WOULD appear no other US president has ever had the level of criticism that Donald Trump has received.

The Democrats have tried every trick in the book from day one to force him out of the role.

They tried desperately to discredit his character with numerous past affairs, his behaviour has been ridiculed, his appearance a topic of amusement.

They have publicly torn up his state of the union speech, tried to involve his election win with Russian interference, and so it goes on.

The latest weapon rolled out is Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention (C-M, Aug 19), who has made one of the most vitriolic speeches ever aired against a leader of their nation.

It is a speech that should never have aired. It denigrates the country’s leader in the eyes of the world and devalues his position as President.

How can Americans show any pride in their leadership when their fellow citizens are acting without any self-respect or good manners.

Once a country of envy and a leader of innovation, space travel, moon landings and awesome military power, the US is now a country of leadership bickering, stupid foreign policy and, because of the poor reaction to COVID-19, a leader in virus deaths that is crippling their economy.

A leader devoted to making “America Great Again” is now being torn down by his own people.

Keith Whiteside, Sippy Downs

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Cyber trolls should fear the consequences of their actions.

SOME ADVICE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA TROLLS

IT APPEARS some cowardly trolls, believing that their social media platforms provided them with anonymity and who decided it was clever to attack Broncos coach Anthony Seibold when they assumed he was down and out and defenceless, might be a tad frightened themselves now (C-M, Aug 19).

There's nothing better than to see bullies put on the back foot.

I have some advice for them which they might now find helpful, admittedly in hindsight.

As the keyboard is actually a typewriter, I have always found it prudent to initiate the writing process by firstly using pen and paper. This buys you more time to think carefully about what you are saying.

I then use the keyboard to polish the fruit of my labours.

Finally, before pressing the send button, address your words to the editor of a reputable publication.

Editors are useful tools in the writing process, who can both embellish and save your reputation by merely deciding to publish your words or not. No editors, no standards of decency to conform to.

In hindsight, these trolls might now be wishing they had gone through editors.

Self-publishing is great for the ego, but no test for the quality of your writing.

And another thing these “writers” might be about to find out is that lawyers have a very good use for keyboards too. They use them for typing out expensive invoices.

Crispin Walters, Chapel Hill

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FARMERS BATTLE UNIS

UNIVERSITIES want international students back in Australia (C-M, Aug 19).

Farmers would like backpackers to return to save their crops.

Why all the discussion about international students and very little about how important is the need for workers to assist worried farmers?

Who really needs the help, the farmers or the universities?

Cecile Falvey, Mt Tamborine

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SWITCHING LOYALTIES

QUEENSLAND politicians have achieved a feat I once thought impossible.

Having been born in Charleville, I have been an ardent Queensland State of Origion supporter for decades despite living in NSW.

It is with regret, and some astonishment, that my loyalty must change to NSW.

I imagine my next step will be nominating NSW rather than Australia as my country of residence.

Most nations require a civil war to destroy a federation.

All we needed were a few secondrate politicians and a subjugated population.

This is a brave new world indeed.

Paul Cochrane, Lismore

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