*18% thats the amount they want to buy, not a controlling interest,*

Ah Belly, but the devil is in the 600 pages of details, this is
not just about buying an 18% minority stake. That is the problem.
Its about power within managment, to select management in the first
place, etc.

It is not one clause in that 600 pages, but cumulatively what will
happen with all those clauses. That is exactly what Gottliebson
has raised.

Still amused at the thought Labor is doing any thing wrong with being close to China.
That we all understand trade is good for us, but not with some?
That so much of our country is owned by over seas firms, that we even look for foreign investments , but not this one.
I just can not except this is a threat, and wonder constantly how conservative Australia can not see they gain nothing by looking for yellow peril in this.

Belly, I'm afraid that Yabby and Bronwyn are both right here, if from different perspectives. 56% of the people saying that Australia is not too close to China suggests (assuming there is no "don't know, don't care" percentage) that 44% of the people believe that we are. And this is where Yabby is right. How many people will read the detail as proposed by Gottleibson? He is someone we should be listening to before it's too late. 18% may not seem to be anything to worry about now, but who knows what backroom deals take place over time?

Bronwyn is right too; it appears that far too many politicians of all persuasions have "skeletons in their closets", and Rudd made a lot of noise about standards of conduct which he now seems reluctant to enforce. That suggests to me that he may well be hiding certain "skeletons" of his own. As Bronwyn said, we didn't expect any better of Howard and Co., that's why he, and they, got voted out.

I believe that all political donations, in money or in kind, should be subject to full public disclosure so that we can make properly informed decisions about whether these are fit and proper people to be holding office in this country.

Nicky

Belly, this has nothing to do with the peril. Fortesque have
just taken on a 15% investment from the Chinese, on very
different terms. ie. just like normal shareholders.

That is not the case with the Chinalco- Rio deal. Lawyers
write 600 pages for good reasons lol, they don't want anyone
to bother reading the details. Its in those details that
the problems lie, which would cost you and other Australians,
billions. With 18%, the Chinese Govt would control the destiny
of Rio and of the price of many raw materials that they source
from Australia. Their interest is not the same as that of
normal shareholders, who want companies to make profits
and thus pay royalties and taxes. The Chinese Govt wants
el cheapo raw materials on masse for the future. The money
invested in Rio hardly matters. See the big picture here.

In my humble opinion you should not open your own business
Belly, the sharks would sink you in a jiffy :) I mean
that nicely.

yabby you may be right, I once ran a business, did not make a lot of money, but did not leave owing anyone, including my workers.
We, Australia, do not own Rio tinto, we do not any longer own the products it mines, did we ever?
Foreign investment has driven mining here for a very long time.
Without it we stop developing, go back wards.
yes true, I too am concerned about this, any country owning our future, but why China alone?
We are a a very small part in world trade, China is bound for the top of that tree, do we stand on our fear seemingly based on just China?
Quote away but for every expert who says no another supports the sale.
Lets watch the G20 closely, it may well bring news that will make a difference.
But be prepared to be even more concerned about Chinas rise, if it concerns you, much more fear is on the way.
American greed has tipped us all out of the boat.

Ms. Liu has close ties with the Chinese Government and with the Peoples' Liberation Army. Her father was a General, and she hails from Shandong, the province producing most of the high ranking military officers. She would naturally 'socialise' and chat with them about her Australian connections.

The ladies might think that Joel Fitzgibbon is an attractive man. But I don't think that Ms. Liu favoured him because of that. The free trips must be regarded as sinister, given the Defence Minister's postion and Ms. Liu's standing with the Chinese Government and with the PLA.