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Clive Palmer goes on rant against China on Q&A, claims China govt are ‘mongrels’ who kill their own people and want to take over Australia

CLIVE Palmer called his only Chinese-born senator this morning to discuss THOSE Q&A comments. But will Dio Wang resign from politics?

Matt Young and amp; JENNIFER RAJCA
7 min read
August 19, 2014 - 6:28AM
News Corp Australia
Pauline Hanson weighs in on Clive's China comments

PALMER United’s WA senator Dio Wang has broken his silence over his party leader’s tirade against China on Q&A and says he won’t be quitting PUP.

PerthNow tracked down Chinese-born politician Dio Wang, whose Chinese name is Zhenya, to his East Perth constituency office but was told he was “busy in meetings”.

After a two-hour wait, Mr Wang stepped out of his office for a break but was still reluctant to answer any of our questions.

He told journalist Peter Law Mr Palmer phoned him earlier this morning to discuss the situation.

According to journalist Peter Law, Mr Wang was “satisfied” with the conversation and confirmed he would not be leaving the party.

He said he would not answer questions regarding Mr Palmer’s description of Chinese people as “mongrels”.

Meanwhile, Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie has stuck her foot in it — again.

Tasmania’s PUP member today emailed a media statement and “opinion piece” regarding her boss Clive Palmer's tirade on Chinese “mongrels” on QandA last night.

In an inflammatory statement, Ms Lambie writes, “If anybody thinks that we should have a national security and defence policy, which ignores the threat of a Chinese Communist invasion — you’re delusional and got rocks in your head.

“Today China is controlled by an aggressive, anti democratic, totalitarian government. We need to double the size and capacity of our military right now.”

She continues to support Mr Palmer on the “general point made about Communist China’s military capacity and threat to Australia.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learnt after serving my country in the Australian Defence Force for 11 years and listening closely to our veterans, it’s this: The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.

“Clive Palmer’s comments on the ABC’s Q&A are a timely warning and highlight the appalling national security and defence policy failures of both Labor and the Liberals/Nationals.

“Both Labor and the Liberals/Nationals have failed to build an Australian military that is able to defend us - and stop our grandchildren from becoming slaves to an aggressive, anti-democratic, totalitarian foreign power.”

Senator Zhenya Dio Wang is sworn in. Picture: Gary Ramage
Senator Zhenya Dio Wang is sworn in. Picture: Gary Ramage
Senator Jacqui Lambie is sworn in. Picture: Gary Ramage
Senator Jacqui Lambie is sworn in. Picture: Gary Ramage

Meanwhile, the one politician Australia really wants to hear from this morning has chosen to keep his opinions to himself, as Clive Palmer continues to cop it after launching a tirade against the Chinese last night.

A spokeswoman for the Palmer United Party’s Chinese born senator, Dio Wang, who holds a seat in Western Australia, told news.com.au Mr Wang had “no comment”.

According to the spokeswoman, Mr Wang was “preparing for upcoming back to back Senate sittings”.

Mr Wang was born in Nanjing, China, and emigrated to Australia in 2003. He has been an Australian citizen since 2009.

He earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Planning and Design (Urban Planning) and Master of Engineering Structures at the University of Melbourne.

Dio Wang with Clive Palmer.
Dio Wang with Clive Palmer.
Leader of the Palmer United Party Clive Palmer (C) poses with his PUP senators Dio Wang (L), Jacqui Lambie and Glenn Lazarus (R) along with Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (AMEP) senator Ricky Muir. Picture: William West
Leader of the Palmer United Party Clive Palmer (C) poses with his PUP senators Dio Wang (L), Jacqui Lambie and Glenn Lazarus (R) along with Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (AMEP) senator Ricky Muir. Picture: William West

Wang was Palmer’s top candidate for PUP’s 2013 Western Australia federal election campaign.

He was initially caught up in the recount scandal, eventually winning with 12.3 per cent of the vote. He joined the Senate on July 1 this year.

Meanwhile, Bill Shorten said using that kind of language to describe one of “Australia’s good friends” was “irresponsible and certainly not in Australia’s best interests”.

“Mr Palmer’s comments don’t reflect the views of Australians or the strength of our friendship,” the Opposition Leader said.

“China is one of our most important relationships and unwarranted sprays like this are not helpful at all.

“I think a lot of Chinese-Australians would understandably feel hurt by these comments.

“We’ve come a long way as a proud multicultural nation and these comments are unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, former One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has shocked Australia this morning by giving a measured and thought-provoking interview regarding Clive Palmer’s explosive tirade against the Chinese on the ABC last night.

In an interview alongside former radio shock jock Derryn Hinch on Channel 7’s Sunrise program, Ms Hanson criticised Mr Palmer for his tirade against Australia’s biggest trading partner.

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On Q&A last night, Mr Palmer likened the Chinese government to “mongrels” and called them “b*stards” who wanted to “take over our country”.

In a broad spray the maverick MP accused the “communist Chinese government” of trying to take over Australia’s ports to steal the nation’s natural resources. “I don’t mind standing up against the Chinese bastards and stopping them from doing it,” he said on Q&A.

Treasurer Joe Hockey this morning said Mr Palmer’s comments are “hugely damaging”, arguing he is a big beneficiary of China’s investment.

“I would say to Mr Palmer please do not bring down the rest of Australia because of your biases.”

Mr Palmer has since attempted to defuse the situation, tweeting this morning that his comments were not in reference to “Chinese people”.

Yet in an unexpected twist, Ms Hanson criticised Mr Palmer, telling Sunrise he should “stick your nose out of other people’s business”.

“I never said what Clive Palmer said, and Tony Abbott thought I was his biggest headache,” she said.

“Maybe Clive Palmer should take a position over in China in Parliamentary seats.

“I’ve always said clean up your own backyard before criticising other people.

“It’s not up to Clive Palmer or anyone else. It’s not for us or Australia to get involved in that.”

Meanwhile, Julie Bishop said it was not appropriate for Mr Palmer to “vent his bitterness” on a television program over a business deal.

In an interview with 3AW this morning, she said she would be speaking with the Chinese embassy to explain that the comments were from just one member of parliament, but would not be contacting Mr Palmer.
Ms Hanson’s comments are in stark contrast to her political position in the 1990s, where she was well known for her polarising views on Asia.

In her 1996 maiden address to the Australian Parliament, she said, “I and most Australians want our immigration policy radically reviewed and that of multiculturalism abolished.

“I believe we are in danger of being swamped by Asians. Between 1984 and 1995, 40 per cent of all migrants coming into this country were of Asian origin.

“They have their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate.”

The Palmer United Party leader is embroiled in a legal battle with Chinese state-owned company CITIC Pacific, which has accused the mining magnate of siphoning off $12 million in funds.

Mr Palmer has strenuously denied accusations his company Mineralogy misused CITIC Pacific’s cash to finance PUP’s federal election campaign.

He said the matter was before the Supreme Court this week and he’d keep up the fight against the “Chinese mongrels”.

“I’m saying that because they’re communist, because they shoot their own people, they haven’t got a justice system and they want to take over this country,” he said.

“We’re not going to let them do it.”

China is Australia’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade hitting nearly $151 billion in 2013.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce described Mr Palmer’s tirade as “not helpful” and “damaging” to Australia.

“You can’t blame the Chinese for being tough business people. That’s what business is about,” he told ABC TV this morning.

“The emotive and colourful language is not the way that you do business.

“I think it might be a little bit of an insight to the rest of Australia on how negotiations can sometimes be febrile when trying to get through a Budget as well.”

Mr Joyce said the PUP leader needs to realise that he’s seen as a representative of Australia.

“You’re one of 76 people. You represent three senators. Your party represents three senators. Three senators with that incredible honour to wear the little red pin in their lapel, to call themselves a Senator of their respective states and as such other countries see that as a reflection of an attitude.”

The Minister insisted Australia wants to do business and trade with China, because they are a crucial trading partner.

“We know that business will be tough, negotiations will be tough, that’s the way the world is. We accept that and we respect that.

“Now, you can’t just drop your bundle on national television. That is just not the way it works.”

 Mr Palmer also told Q&A of his plans to host a self-styled climate change conference at his Queensland resort the day after the G20 summit wraps up in Brisbane.

Mr Palmer claims there are many world leaders who want to discuss climate change at the G20 in November but can’t because the issue isn’t on the agenda.

He’s hoping his counter conference on November 17 will fill the gap and attract a strong crowd to the Palmer Coolum Resort — famous for its dinosaur theme park.

“We’ll have international leaders from all over the world and the globe, talking about climate change,” he said.

The Abbott government has faced criticism in some quarters for not including climate change on the official G20 agenda, choosing instead to focus on economic growth, trade and job creation.

PUP will next week introduce a bill to the Senate calling for an emissions trading scheme to be set up in case Australia’s major trading partners adopt a similar scheme.

It’s unclear if Labor supports the proposal, while the government will almost certainly reject it.

“We have to realise that if we want to trade with other countries and they have an ETS, they won’t allow our products to enter unless we have a similar scheme,” he said.

Mr Palmer’s three senators and the Motoring Enthusiast Party’s Ricky Muir last month gave the government the crucial votes it needed to abolish carbon pricing in Australia.

Clive Palmer talks to the media on the Esplanade at Paradise Point, Gold Coast. Pic Jono Searle.
Clive Palmer talks to the media on the Esplanade at Paradise Point, Gold Coast. Pic Jono Searle.
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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/clive-palmer-goes-on-rant-against-china-on-qa-claims-china-govt-are-mongrels-who-kill-their-own-people-and-want-to-take-over-australia/news-story/487fdc34ad5c92d740b167b9bda90803