Waking from our present position of high dependence on Chinese purchases of our minerals and acceptance of high numbers of Asian students to 'balance the books', this pandemic has given us time to consider where we wish to go. I think that the national wish is for a reduction in both of the above, however, old mate, Greed keeps us on that course.

The alternative of restricting both of the above would naturally cause great financial pain; however, if a mid course of more self dependence could be driven through, with Australia becoming a super power in energy through second phase use of our mineral wealth [instead of being the world's quarry], then we would break the dependence on China.

Ross Garnaut outlines how this can be achieved in his book, "Superpower: Australia's low carbon opportunity".

Thus, we could follow the U.S.A.'s success story from its golden history of oil exploration and self sufficiency from a source of energy, but ours will be cheaper to source than the U.S.A. example.

Misopinionated,

Hi, Rip Van Winkle !

" ..... the Wuhan virus has in just over a month undone all the growth and development ..... "

The Chinese were locking Wuhan down maybe three months ago: they were welding apartment building doors shut in late January (one report says New Year's Day). It's now late April. Perhaps your TAFE certificate course in sociological environmentalism has kept you too occupied to keep up with the real world :)

So what's been the result of China's lock-down policy vs. that (those) of the US ? A much bigger population and poorer facilities, but a fraction of the deaths, and almost no new cases daily, compared to two thousand deaths daily in the US, and no decline in the curve ?

Yes, China uses quasi-fascist techniques, not just against its minorities, but against ordinary citizens: old imperialist and authoritarian habits die hard. But they seem to have worked in the control of a virulent virus emanating from their meat markets, at the interface of hunting and urban populations.

Take some time to catch up :)

Joe

LOUDmouth,

What are you talking about? It is easy to see where your politics lie COMRADE.

I was describing Australia not China when I said the Wuhan virus had undone 30 years of growth in about a month.

Geez, don't get so sensitive when some brings up the name China. If you are so much in bed with the Chinese why don't you move there?