Opinion: Why China wants Albo in The Lodge
We’ll soon be electing a federal government, and China will be looking on closely. The CCP want Anthony Albanese in The Lodge because they see him as a pushover, writes Peter Gleeson.
Peter Gleeson
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After two of the toughest years in history, Australia goes into the summer holidays with renewed optimism, as the borders are opened and people can finally plan their lives with a certain amount of confidence.
With Covid-19 cases spiralling, politicians will need nerves of steel to keep their borders open and let people get on with their lives.
Within six months, we’ll be electing a federal government, and there will be one country looking on closely – China.
The CCP wants Anthony Albanese in The Lodge.
They see Albo as a pushover. Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has embraced their Belt and Road fantasy and they quite rightly see his Labor comrade as of similar ilk.
China’s exuberance to see Labor elected may backfire.
There are three issues that will determine the next federal election and our relationship with China, particularly what they are doing in the South Pacific, is one of them.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton has been bold and precise in his language towards the Chinese.
Some have dismissed his rhetoric as warmongering.
Fools denounce the truth, often because it doesn’t suit their agenda.
This may well be a khaki election. Who would you prefer running the country with China flexing its military muscle – Morrison and Dutton or Albanese and Marles?
There will be many Australians who will vote for the Coalition in these uncertain geopolitical times.
The second and probably most important election issue is the economy and the Morrison Government’s luxury of incumbency.
They will rightly point to JobKeeper having saved millions of Australians from economic ruin, with welfare stimulus spending of more than $300bn.
The PM will talk of Labor just taxing its way out of the economic malaise.
The strength of the economy, the momentum around the post-Covid recovery and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s stellar performance plays well for the conservatives.
Then there’s climate change. Morrison’s wishy washy approach to Glasgow and climate change is code for “we have to run with this but we’re just not that into it’’.
Climate change policy and renewable targets are job killers, and they will hurt Labor more than the Coalition.
The climate change zealots are voting for the Greens anyway, and the miners who are looking to Labor to keep them in employment want guarantees on their jobs, something Labor just can’t bring itself to do.
Like 2019, Morrison goes into the election as the underdog.
Only this time the bookies won’t be paying out early on Labor and Bill Shorten.
Only God has the answer, and even he’s supposed to be in Scomo’s corner.
Merry Christmas.
Originally published as Opinion: Why China wants Albo in The Lodge