David Gonski call to ‘savour’ chance of doing deals

David Gonski has called on Australian businesses to ‘savour’ the opportunities presented by co-operating with China.

ANZ chairman and University of NSW chancellor David Gonski. Picture: Nikki Short

ANZ chairman and University of NSW chancellor David Gonski has called on businesses to ­“savour” the opportunities presented by co-operating with China and has dismissed concerns about the Chinese acquiring Australian agricultural assets.

He said while Australia should be prepared to express its position where there were areas of difference in relations with China, it should be done with “respect”.

“This is a great opportunity and one we should savour,’’ he told The Australian’s Strategic Forum in Sydney.

Mr Gonski, the former chairman of Coca-Cola Amatil, said he travelled to China for business every 18 months. “I find the Chinese very business-like, very focused on what is happening, a joy to talk to,’’ he said, noting “going to China is, as far as I am concerned, like going to any other territory we deal with’’. “As Australians we should not assume that everybody thinks like we do,’’ he said.

The government’s approval last week of a $1.5bn Chinese takeover of Australian dairy products producer Bellamy’s reignited calls for a far-reaching inquiry into the Chinese government’s influence in the deal and its growing influence in local agriculture.

Three years ago a Chinese firm paid $280m for another dairy producer, the Van Diemen’s Land Company.

“When you sell land to an overseas party, it is not something you need to be too worried about ­because they can’t roll it up and take it away,” Mr Gonski said.

While US President Donald Trump has talked up a looming technology war between America and China in the battle for control of the internet, Mr Gonski said good businesses would always deal with many suppliers.

“I don’t see any stopping of technological development with China. I don’t see things as binary,’’ he said. “Most of us who have been involved in business know that you seldom have one customer ... Having many is a strength.”