‘China’s pick at election’: Morrison doubles down on China attack

Intelligence figures have warned he is playing into the hands of Beijing, but Scott Morrison has maintained his attack on Labor over China.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has doubled down in labelling Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese “the Chinese Government’s pick at this election”, despite intelligence figures warning it is “not helpful” and playing into the hands of Beijing.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said efforts to counter foreign interference would be at risk if Labor was elected, and Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews declared Labor needed to “demonstrate its bona fides” on national security and that it lacked the strength to secure borders.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison doubled down on claims Anthony Albanese was the “Chinese government’s pick at this election”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Labor has branded the tactic a “desperate, untrue scare campaign”, “grubby” and “ridiculous”, while the Government argued it was drawing out the contrast in their record.

It follows Australian Security Intelligence Organisation boss Mike Burgess saying politicising national security is “not helpful for us” and former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson said trying to create a policy difference on China when none exists “serves the interest of one country and that is China”.

Mr Morrison said his Government stood up to “economic coercion of the Chinese Government” which had been “met with more retaliation on Australia”.

“I am not the leader of a political party was having to trade away some coercion for other coercion.

“The leader of the Labor Party is the Chinese Government’s pick at this election,” he said, referring to an opinion piece in the state-run Global Times backing Mr Albanese for prime minister.

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said it was a “desperate, untrue scare campaign”, while Mr Albanese said the national interest should be above politics.

“The abuse of national security provisions has been quite a disgrace and has been undermining Australia’s national interests,” Mr Albanese said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

But, he also used the same attack regarding Chinese Government influence Labor had been criticising Mr Morrison about, saying of the Prime Minister, “if you are looking for a Manchurian candidate look over there”.

Meanwhile, in an early morning virtual summit, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson committed almost $50 million to help Australia combat cyber attacks, state threats and maritime security in the region, as he and Scott Morrison as talked China, peace in the Indo-Pacific and tensions on the Ukraine border.

The two leaders also gave a clear message to Beijing by speaking out against human rights abuses in Xinjiang, the security crackdown in Hong Kong and support for Taiwan.

Originally published as ‘China’s pick at election’: Morrison doubles down on China attack