Labor to back Scott Morrison on Beijing’s Winter Olympics boycott

Labor has offered to work with Scott Morrison to come to an agreed position on a ­potential diplomatic boycott of Beijing’s Winter Olympics.

Penny Wong says ‘the case of Peng Shuai raises serious concerns about athlete safety’. Picture: Gary Ramage

Labor has offered to work with Scott Morrison to come to an agreed national position on a ­potential diplomatic boycott of next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics, amid growing internal pressure on the government to block officials from attending.

The move follows the Women’s Tennis Association’s announcement on Thursday of a ban on tournaments in China over concerns for the welfare of Chinese player Peng Shuai.

“The case of Peng Shuai raises serious concerns about athlete safety,” opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong told The Australian.

Richard Colbeck. Picture: Getty Images

“In light of this and ongoing concerns about the human rights situation in China, Labor is willing to work with the government to agree a bipartisan, national position on the level of Australia’s ­diplomatic representation at the Winter Olympics.”

The Prime Minister told the Coalition partyroom on Tuesday that he was carefully considering whether Australia would mount a diplomatic boycott of the games.

The Australian understands Sports Minister Richard Colbeck will not attend the Olympics even if the government stops short of an official boycott.

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said it was up to the government whether Mr Colbeck attended the games.

“It is not an issue for the International Olympic Committee or the AOC. It’s the government’s call, other than to note in our case there is still much to observe and learn looking ahead to Brisbane 2032, and our minister sits on the (World Anti-Doping Agency) board as a government representative,” Mr Coates said.

Liberal MP Kevin Andrews called on Mr Morrison in the ­Coalition party room this week to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Games, thereby allowing Australia’s athletes to compete while also taking a stand against China’s human rights abuses.

Mr Morrison replied that he was “very carefully considering the issues” with Mr Colbeck and Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

Liberal senators Eric Abetz and David Fawcett have also called on Mr Morrison in an August letter to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Games, while Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Labor MP Peter Khalil have publicly called for one. Senator Colbeck’s office said there had been no decision on whether the minister would attend the Games, which will be held from February 4-20 in a “closed-loop” bubble without foreign spectators.

Peng Shuai. Picture: AFP

However, multiple senior government sources told The Australian he would not travel to China for the event. It is understood the government is set to blame Senator Colbeck’s non-attendance on strict Covid rules introduced for the Games, which would restrict his movement around the capital.

“It’s all but pointless from a diplomatic perspective for (Senator Colbeck) to go,” one source said.

The bigger question for the government is whether or not Australia’s ambassador to China, Graham Fletcher, will represent the government at the Games.

Peng, the former women’s doubles world No.1, recently alleged on social media that she was assaulted by China’s former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli. She then promptly disappeared from view.

Chinese media reported Peng had attended a junior tournament in Beijing and spoke with Thomas Bach, the IOC president, saying she was “safe and well”.

But the WTA said it still had “serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, ­coercion and intimidation”.

It’s expected Australia will wait until the US announces a decision on sending American officials to the Olympics in Beijing before ­announcing its own position.

President Joe Biden has been facing calls from both sides of congress for a US diplomatic boycott, revealing last month it was something he was considering.

China has condemned calls for such a boycott as “malicious hype”, while saying it has no plans to invite a large number of foreign officials because of Covid-19 risks.

Liberals are urging Scott Morrison to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Games. Picture: Martin Ollman