Australia:The new-look Federal Government should not abandon moves towards a “reset” with China or risk further political turmoil, a market consultant has warned, as some of the nation’s peak business lobbies meet in Darwin.
Malcolm Turnbull’s gesture of conciliation to the Chinese Government earlier this month was a “promising development” according to Adam Handley, WA president of the Australia China Business Council and consultant to major foreign government and non-government investors in Australia.
But whether a Scott Morrison-led administration will “embrace” that relationship is yet to be seen, he told the National Port Conference.
“I think we saw signs from the Chinese side that China welcomed the attempt to reset the relationship so we hope that will continue,” he said.
The Federal Government last week banned Chinese-owned tech giant Huawei from taking part in the rollout of 5G mobile infrastructure, with Mr Morrison citing the “safety and security of Australians”.
The two-day National Ports Conference is being held within sight of the waters of Darwin Port, leased to the Chinese-owned Landbridge Group for 99 years.
The controversial lease raised security concerns about Chinese influence in northern Australia, with defence facilities and a US military presence around Darwin.
Labelled “dumb” by the head of the Australian Defence Association, the deal even drew attention from then-US President Barack Obama.
Ports Australia chief executive Michael Gallacher said he believed it had yielded a positive outcome.
“The Northern Territory Government is still a partner in this port and they will play that role as the gatekeeper to ensure any development is in keeping with community expectation,” he said.
“It is a partnership between government and a private entity, and the fruits of that relationship are there for everyone to see in the harbour and around the economy here which is now getting an opportunity to expand.”
