Plea for Tony Abbott supporters to back Western Australian MP Andrew Hastie, anti-China petition
Tony Abbott’s loyal army of supporters have been contacted en masse to support Western Australian MP Andrew Hastie, and a petition protecting Australia’s sovereignty against “authoritarian regimes like the Chinese Communist Party”.
Manly
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Tony Abbott’s loyal army of supporters have been contacted en masse by outspoken China critic and WA politician Andrew Hastie asking them to sign a petition protecting Australia’s sovereignty.
The Manly Daily revealed last week that the former Warringah MP had handed his sought after supporters contact list to Mr Hastie, a Liberal MP on the other side of the country, who he described as a “great defender of the values you and I hold so dear”.
More than 11,000 have already signed the petition which calls for the safeguarding of Australia’s sovereignty against “authoritarian regimes like the Chinese Communist Party”.
In a message which arrived in supporter’s inboxes yesterday, former SAS soldier and now MP for Canning said, the “coronavirus pandemic has exposed the true cost of relying too heavily on an authoritarian regime like China for our economic security and prosperity”.
“Although few will admit it, the Chinese Communist Party seeks to reshape the global order and Australia’s position in it through foreign interference, ownership of strategic assets and influence operations.
“Australian institutions, universities, and assets are now contested; our sovereignty and independence will be diminished if we don’t continue to push back.”
Mr Hastie also said “it’s essential that we are united as a nation with the resolve to take action.
“We must ensure Australia is in a strong position to guarantee its security, prosperity and our ability to manufacture essential goods.”
Last week, one senior Warringah Liberal and a fan of Mr Abbott said it was no surprise the high-profile former politician was not throwing his support behind a northern beaches Liberal or any rumoured candidates for the seat he lost to independent Zali Steggall last year.
“There’s a view in the party that Tony’s support is better served with someone like Andrew Hastie who is much more sensible and with an agenda more aligned to national sovereignty and a realistic approach to energy security and climate change,” he said.
“Many Liberals in Warringah are from the dominant left faction of the Liberal party with a Zali Steggall agenda.”
Mr Hastie was one of 10 politicians who abstained from the same-sex marriage vote alongside Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott, four others voted no.