Australia election 2022 live: Morrison admits ‘I can be a bit of a bulldozer’ on issues; Albanese says ‘bulldozers wreck things’

Q: You have said you have been one of the most forthright governments, going into this election, Gladys is here in Chisholm, Reid, Bennelong have large Chinese-Australian populations which may not have an affinity with the Chinese government but are proud of their heritage. Are you concerned if you lose some of the seats at the election they have failed to understand or you have failed to communicate the difference between your rhetoric on the Chinese government and Chinese people?

Scott Morrison:

You make a good point, because I am always very careful to make this distinction.

I talk about the assertive and aggressive nature of the Chinese government. Not the Chinese people. You know, Chinese-Australians are the greatest patriots you could hope for in this country. I remember being with Gladys, early on in the pandemic.

You remember we were down at Box Hill, it was February of 2020. I mean the pandemic at that stage had not yet hit the rapid escalation in this country we were seeing in others but, you know, as Chinese-Australians who were coming back out of Wuhan and coming back out of China, and returning, they saved Australia as much as anyone else in the way they came home and the way that they took precautions.

Whether it was here in Melbourne, or up in Hurstville or up there in Ryde or other parts of the country, I’m enormously grateful to the way the Chinese community leaders in Australia worked with the government so carefully during the course of the pandemic and played such an important role in those early phases of the pandemic.

So, I agree with you. I mean, Chinese-Australians, they are Australians, they are Australians and they are proud about being Australians and I’m proud of them. I’m proud of what they have done for our country, I’m proud of what they have achieved for our country.

And so that’s why I draw a sharp and distinct line between the actions of an authoritarian government that is seeking to be cohesive against Australia and to interfere in our region, and the wonderful Chinese people. Chinese-Australians here have family in China, they know what it’s like to live under authoritarian government. That’s why so many of them have come to Australia in the first place. Gladys herself understands and grieves terribly for what we are seeing in Hong Kong. And that’s why the Australian government has stood up for the people of Hong Kong, stood up for the people of Xinjiang.

Stood up for those oppressed in China and stood up for human rights and there is no group of people in Australia more passionate about standing up for their fellow Chinese heritage in China who live under that regime.

Q: Are you concerned, do you share concerns about the rise of China?

Gladys Liu:

Well, the way I look at it is I have come to the country 37 years and I became an Australian citizen 30 years ago. I’ve got my children born and raised here. And I understand now I’m an elected member of the Australian parliament, my job is to help to make this country a better country. For anyone to suggest that Chinese-Australians are not Australians … and still have the loyalty and want to do things that is bad for Australia I think that is offensive, divisive and un-Australian.

Q: We are not saying that. We are specifically asking about the rise of China. I spent some time in your electorate in weeks and I spoke to Chinese-Australian voters there, many said they were concerned about the rhetoric from your government directed at China and they said it was making them less likely to vote for you. So what do you say to them? I mean, how can you reassure those voters?

Liu:

I have been at the pre-poll for four solid days. And I can tell you when you talk to Chinese people in Australia you don’t start by asking whether they are holding a Chinese passport, visiting this place, or come to help their children to look after their children.

Because we do have a lot of Chinese people living in Australia at the moment but they still hold a Chinese passport.

And I’m not talking about those people, I’m talking about those who pledged loyalty to the country. I have seen a lot of people throughout my three years as a member of parliament, at citizenship ceremonies and I hear them pledge loyalty to Australia. So if anyone suggests Chinese-Australians are any different from all other Australians, whether they were born here or not, I think this is offensive, divisive and un-Australian.

Morrison:

Very well said.

No one was saying what Liu was talking about.