Foxy, Fitzgibbon failed twice to fill in the register, once in 2002 and again in 2005. When this came to light recently he attempted to obfuscate, and only only then had to come clean. This man has no-one to blame but himself.

Along with Rudd keeping secret his meeting with the Chinese Propaganda Minister from Oz media while allowing the Chinese 'free' press to cover the visit, it's the govt. who have made a rod for their own backs here. Just clumsy.

Rather than the 60 days grace given MP's to report their junkets, I'd like to see mandatory disclosure of paid-for visits before they flew out. Might make a few of them think twice about going.

Belly, never mind any China trips, they simply don't matter.

What really matters is how the Govt will decide on the Chinalco-
Rio deal.

Robert Gottliebson read and analysed the 600 pages of the contract:

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Tue-$pd20090313-Q3QXH?OpenDocument

What it comes down to is that the Chinese are great chess players
and want cheaper resources. Chinalco is owned by the Chinese
Govt. If that deal goes through as agreed so far, the Chinese
will largely control the price of Australian iron ore and
Australians will have been done like a dinner on the spit!

We'll see if Wayne Swan is gullible and stupid enough to accept it,
or to see the clear Chinese grab here, much to Australia's loss.

Well yabby I too feel very much like you on the sale issue.
But we may both be wrong.
Did we stand in the way of Japan owning so much?
Or the Arab states?
America? even England and Holland own much of our country, why are we supper sensitive about China?
The opposition Foxy is sliding back wards into a huge hole of their own making.
Palimpsest grabs this story with both hands, it however is not about two trips, it is about both a beat up story from an opposition without direction.
And an expression of real concern held by many on all sides of politics about Chinas long term plans.
If travel for the last 20 years was tabled we all would be concerned, fact is this government and the last get such gifts very often.
Foxy while this is fishing in a very dry pond, there are things that need looking into.
It is common business practice to get free travel in the hope of favors being returned.
Any over protection of the party you follow can lead to stagnation and a loss of direction, just look at the humbling of the opposition, if 74% think Rudd is better 30% are Liberal voters.

Dear Belly, you asked the question, "Did we stand in the way of Japan owning so much? Or the Arab states? America? even England and Holland own much of our country, why are we supper sensitive about China?"

The difference between China and the other nations you mention is that China is both the company in question and the State. The other countries you mention might have companies based there but not owned by the State.

You said to Foxy, "It is common business practice to get free travel in the hope of favors being returned." This simply not true, any such activity ceased in the private sector with the introduction of the "Fringe Benefits Tax". So why are politicians exempt?

This is not a matter of Liberal or labor, it applies to all politicians.

The rhetoric of the Labour parties concern for human rights is unmasked in this hypocrisy. They have shown to be a party to put popularity even above their own warped principles. Unfortunately I doubt Mr Turnbull is any different. The sooner the Liberal party wake up to this the better.

*Did we stand in the way of Japan owning so much?*

Well this is quite different, as its the Chinese Govt
investing, not some company.

The Chinese Govt wants cheap resources and lots of them.
At the moment, due to the banking crisis, they can pick
up prime assets dirt cheap.

Australia got done like a dinner, when then Japanese
were able to buy iron ore for a song, for years, as
the market was kind of rigged. Finally we get some
competition in the market, ie China, now it looks like
we will get done like a dinner once again, by smarter
negotiators.

The losers will be all Australians, as less royalties
will be paid on resources, less company taxes, etc.
Less money for roads, less money for pensioners etc.

Kind of sad really, but we'll see if Swan is awake
or not, as Gottliebson's findings have been widely
published.