NSW Coronavirus: Wagga councillor Paul Funnell calls to cut Chinese relationships over coronavirus pandemic
A Wagga councillor is calling for relationships with Chinese regions to be cut over the coronavirus pandemic, saying it is the only response to the Chinese government, which “has caused such death, destruction and turmoil across the world”.
The Wagga News
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A Wagga councillor’s call to “repeal and sever” all relationships and agreements with China due to the coronavirus pandemic has been labelled “appalling” by Wagga Multicultural Council.
Councillor Paul Funnell will tonight present a report at an ordinary meeting to revoke all of those arrangements with its Chinese counterparts after the coronavirus began in Wuhan.
Wagga has one sister city relationship with Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, and two friendship relationships with Tieling city and Jiangsu province.
There is also a memorandum of understanding with the Kunming International Friendship Cities Education Cooperation Declaration.
Wuhan, the epicentre of COVID-19 is more than 1500km east and southwest of Kunming and Tieling, respectively.
Cr Funnell said these arrangements mean the council had a relationship with the “totalitarian communist regime” of the Chinese government that “has caused such death, destruction and turmoil across the world”.
“This is the same Chinese Communist Government that delights in lies, subterfuge and cover ups,” he said.
“As a result of this regimes’ actions and inaction post virus outbreak, this very regime has brought death and destruction across the world with COVID-19, and Wagga Wagga LGA has not been spared.
“The consequences of this are ongoing and will continue to be felt for generations to come.
“The human suffering and financial outcome won’t be known for decades.”
However, the multicultural council chief exectuive Belinda Crain has described the call as appalling and questioned the effectiveness of it, should it be approved.
“You’d think that during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, what we need more is kindness,” Ms Crain said.
“What’s he trying to achieve by bringing this action? Does that mean we stop trade with China?”
“The whole idea (of the arrangements) is to build friendship, goodwill and understanding.”
Ms Crain said marginalising a minority affects all and that the arrangements have brought benefits to both countries.
“I'd be very surprised if it gets up tonight. I think we have enough people on council with commonsense.
“If you're able to marginalise one group. what's stopping to you from marginalising other groups?”
Cr Funnell said cutting ties would show solidarity with all the victims of COVID-19, health care workers, frontline services and Wagga’s other sister cities outside of China.
“Sending a letter expressing our disappointment or conducting some form of symbolic gesture is not enough,” he said.
In response to Ms Crain’s comments, Cr Funnell said his call was to cut ties with organisations that are “expansions of the communist government”.
“I’ll defend her right to call it appalling, but arguing against communism is not racism,” he said.
“Kunming is an extension of the regime. It’s not democratically elected.
“We seem to think we’re in a sister relationship. We’re not.”
Wagga also has arrangements with Germany, East Timor, Japan and Nepal.
Councillors will vote on the matter when the meeting starts at 6pm.