Kristina Keneally compares Turnbull China rhetoric to Pauline Hanson’s

Kristina Keneally compares Malcolm Turnbull’s rhetoric to that of Pauline Hanson.

Kristina Keneally and Senator Doug Cameron at Meadowbank TAFE in Sydney. Picture: AAP.

Kristina Keneally has accused Malcolm Turnbull of “spreading China phobia” as the party attempts to make gains in the electorate of Bennelong from concerns about new foreign interference laws.

Comparing the Prime Minister’s rhetoric to that of One Nation’s Pauline Hanson, Labor’s Bennelong candidate argued Mr Turnbull’s tough stance on the Chinese government would harm Liberal candidate John Alexander, the NSW seat’s former MP.

“(Chinese Australians) see the suggestion from the Prime Minister that people from Chinese and Asian backgrounds are somehow suspicious,” Ms Keneally said.

“They don’t like it, they are very frustrated by it. They feel this is a rhetoric they last heard from Pauline Hanson and One Nation 20 years ago.”

She repeated comments Labor leader Bill Shorten made on Friday that Mr Turnbull’s rhetoric was “China phobic”.

“Malcolm Turnbull is harming his candidate here in Bennelong. The Liberals are harming their own candidate and their own chances as they continue to spread this China phobia,” she said.

“We are seeing real alarm here in Bennelong, where Chinese Australians and Korean Australians are hearing from Malcolm Turnbull, rhetoric that is unhelpful, and rhetoric that is frankly divisive.”

The by-election in the inner northwest Sydney seat of Bennelong is this Saturday. Mr Alexander, who resigned amid the dual citizenship crisis, held the seat on a margin of 9.7 per cent.

Labor has already pointed to the Queensland LNP’s flirtation with a possible deal with One Nation during the state election campaign to win support in the seat.

Last week the Coalition announced they would introduce new laws to halt the interference by governments such as China in Australia’s democracy.

Meanwhile, Mr Alexander joined Treasurer Scott Morrison, who accused senator Sam Dastyari of “letting all Australians down” and “betraying every patriotic Australian.”

Pressure is building on Senator Dastyari to quit the parliament, following allegations he tipped off prominent Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo that his phone might be tapped by Australian security agencies.

Further, new claims have emerged that the senator warned Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek against meeting a pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong.

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