Is Mise, as China is our largest trading partner I doubt they would shoot themselves in the foot and invade us.
I have no doubt America would be here in a flash too if the worst did happen.

They don't have a good track record with human rights, but then again, according to the United Nations, neither do we, with our treatment of Asylum Seekers.

Clive Palmer and Jackie Lambie are an embarressment to politicians, and that's saying something!

One thing our electoral system caters for, with exception of our ridiculous senate, is that voters usually get what they deserve and there is only one thing worse than an out of control idiotic politician, and that's a rich, out of control idiotic politician.

Abbott must call for a DD election and get rid of this arrangement because while he (Palmer) may go, his senators are here for five more years and god knows what sought of damage they can cause, especially given they are cloves puppets.

It is obvious from the recent suggestion from sen lambie that we should be fearful of an attack from China, that either she, it completely living I the past,or, she is a puppet. Either way, they are dangerous and need to be removed.

Of cause it could also be part of Clives other agenda, bringing down the LNP, any way he can.

rehctub,

"Abbott must call for a DD election and get rid of this arrangement...."

Oooooh...Yes please!

(of course, he won't do that....knowing as he does, he and his party would get done like a dog's dinner.)

Regarding the Senate....notwithstanding that it's rather a hodge-podge this time round. What do we do when a party achieves government by means of wholesale deception?

"Of cause it could also be part of Clives other agenda, bringing down the LNP, any way he can."

Er...the fed LNP seem to be doing a nice job of bringing themselves down....they really don't need assistance.

Poirot, "They'd [US] step-in in the blink of an eye...and Australia has always relied upon and known that...which is why we rubber stamp everything US"

No on both counts. An emphatic 'No' on the first.

That is not the way of diplomacy, nor of governments. Think of the changed relationship, UK and Oz.

There is no 'US'. There are US administrations and things change. As well, in a one horse race you can always bank on self interest coming first.

There are obvious scenarios involving our near neighbours where large groups, or a constant trickle, of displaced civilians could be used instead of an army. What would the UN do? That is, apart from criticising Australia because it has all of that (apparently) usable land.

The previous Labor+Green governments confirmed that Australia had little interest in protecting its borders and can be dictated to by people smugglers and economic migrants.

Australia could easily end up partitioned. But hey, that would suit the culturally cringing leftists whose aim is to diversity white Australians out of existence'. Anglophobes who would cut off their own nose to spite their face.

Social change in Australia has always been accompanied
by cultural anxiety for some.

For some there has always been a certain "Fortress
Australia" mentality against outsiders.

And from some of the posts on this forum we can see
that this 50s mentality still exists.

However the hardest work has already been done in
accepting differences by past generations.
Of course there remain challenges but today's
Australians and the attitdues of younger Australians
in particular is on the whole accepting of cultural
diversity. Most agree that on the whole Australia has
come through its historical trials in pretty good
shape.

otb,

Australia has always been of strategic importance...even as far back as our first days when settlement of the Great South Land meant ports for whalers and traders - (not to mention access to long strong pines and flax from nearby islands for masts and sails)

There was a whole lot more to the British settling here than just an outpost to dump convicts.

As far as the rise of Asia is concerned, strategically we are geographically very important.

Depending on the strength of the US in the coming years (as they have already reached their zenith and are probably in the first stages of decline as a super power - as is the way of all entities) I find it difficult to believe that they would sit idly by while Australia was threatened if it was in their power to intervene.