As a side issue, well part of this debate the Australian yesterday had a story on Joel .
It defended him.
The comments made for a good read, Worth a look.
I am not as sure as you yabby about America, more than pleased with it new leader, happy he will do far better than most.
But not sure he can bring that country's greed down, in fact I am unsure if America is any better than China as an owner of our country's resources.
Manufacturing, it is a victim of world trade, free trade we do not support it as other country's can sell us items cheaper than we can make them.
We export your sheep because your market wants to buy them that way.
Arjay has a point, so do you, we can not reduce wages and living conditions so we can compete, sadly we do not in numbers big enough, buy Australian.
I do, when ever possible, but thats not always easy.
Bulk sliced potato chips had [before my diet] made in Australia on the box, and made in Germany on the food.
China will invest we will be a little concerned but the last 50 years have taken us in different directions.
The next 50 will too, maybe one day we will consider ourselves one world one people.

Leigh

"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."

When's the invasion Leigh? I keep looking out the window for signs of yellow men, but I haven't caught sight of any yet.

Truly Spikey you and I should be pleased with the remarks made here.
It is very clear some want to have a go at Labor so badly they ignore history.
Tony Abbots remarks are nearly as funny as the Abbot we expect to be funny.
Sadly however he degrades his party with those comments.
This debate has great importance to Australia, just what do we want from our relationship with China?
Free trips? surely we understand, the Medea understands, indeed knows, hundreds of free or sponsored trips have taken place?
If we could only be made aware of those trips from both sides that have been notified in the last two governments would we have reason to be concerned?
You betcha.

*as other country's can sell us items cheaper than we can make them.*

Belly, just this morning I read an article where Dr Markus Miele
gave a speech in Perth. Miele make German appliances in Germany
(high wages) to sell in world markets. They don't compete on price
but on quality, with the aim that their appliances last for 20 years.

Given that Germany is the world's largest exporter, the theory that
price because of low wages is everything, is not correct.

I still have a cartoon hanging up somewhere, which kind of says it
all. At a trade show were 3 stands. The German one read "buy German
if you want the best" The Japanese one read "buy Japanese if you
want the latest" The Australian one read "buy Australian, we need
the money" .

I regret not being able to follow this thread earlier.

Belly, your hunch was closer than you suggested yourself: Queenie HRH Liz IS the largest non-institutional shareholder in Rio. A belated salute too for your fair-minded, patriotic and rather isolated stand here...

Funny too that some people hold this notion that Chinalco is an intrinsically and/or potentially threatening interest because it is state-owned. What if entities like Rio Tinto, HSBC, Goldman, etc., amount to transnational firms with imperialist, octopus-like reach? Should we not regard that as far more threatening and inimical to national security and sovereignty? What would Turnbull say there? (chortle, spew).

At least with Chinalco, that firm's potential conduct with Australian resources would compel direct responsibilities and accountabilities due to the attached diplomatic concerns and overt, overriding context of "national interests". Forget about any such safeguards - or concerns - with voracious monsters like Rio, etc.!

Thanks mil-observer we both did not mention the Dutch royal family's ownership of so much.
I am without shame ALP to the boot straps.
Not the fawning ones in suits at the front of the bus, seeking a bigger role.
In fact I may be found out the back pushing it.
But without bias, without doubt, or fear, Turnbull and his team in my view are indeed fishing in a dry pond on this issue.
And just maybe being dishonest, I firmly hold the view Turnbull in government would agree with a great deal of things he opposes in opposition.
Strange to recommend such a conservative news paper but some truly informative story's have appeared in the Australian on this issue.