WA Premier’s ominous warning to commonwealth over China trade tensions

The WA Premier has lashed the federal government after lobsters were left to die at Chinese airports warning there could be big consequences.

The crayfish industry “appears” to be the latest victims of Australia’s deteriorating relationship with China and the commonwealth must improve its diplomacy, WA Premier Mark McGowan has warned.

It comes as the South China Morning Post reported barley, sugar, red wine, timber, coal, lobster, copper ore and copper concentrates from Australia were expected to be barred from Friday, even if they had been paid for and had arrived.

A ban on wheat is likely to follow, although a date has not yet been set, the English language newspaper reports.

Mr McGowan said he had been briefed about media reports in China regarding the crayfish industry.

“Obviously this is a massive hit, if true, to the industry both here and in the eastern states,” he told reporters.

Asked if the crayfish industry was the latest victims of the weakening relationship between the two countries, Mr McGowan said: “It certainly appears so.”

The WA Premier says the crayfish industry appears to be the latest victim of Australia’s weakening relationship with China.

The Premier said he had long been telling the commonwealth to “rebalance and get back onto a good, solid relationship” with China.

“We don’t share the same political system, we don’t share many of the same attributes as countries,” he said.

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t get on, that doesn’t mean we can’t work together, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be able to trade together.”

Mr McGowan said diplomacy should be handled behind closed doors.

“I’ve said this to the prime minster numerous times … if we lose our trading relationship with China, that is in effect a mass reduction in national income,” he said.

“That means big consequences for people’s jobs, employment and living standards.

“We built a relationship with China over 50 years and we need to continue to protect that relationship.”