While Mr Keating who's been appointed to the International Advisory Council for the China Development Bank 'warned Australia was putting at risk its relationship at risk with its largest trading partner', he either is totally ignorant or turning a blind eye to the horrific ongoing track record of Xi Jinping's China and its abysmal record relating to rampant human rights abuses by courts and CCP leadership.
Live organ harvesting of dissidents, notably Falun Gong members and progressively moving to Muslims and Christians (who dare to not 'bow down' to his image and illustrious grandiose mantras rather than the Bible) are all revealed in a sad, but verifiable range of 'crimes against humanity' in an Amazon paperback or Kindle version titled CHINA 'Final Solutions'. The leadership of China is demonstrably NOT to be trusted about anything including their so-called 'democracy' and 'freedom of religion' . . .

ZhanPintu,
As the West regresses, China is progressing. Doesn't need a genius to see that !
It's really grossly unfair to point the finger at the smart for exploiting the stupid !

Foxy,

"It's a shame that this election
campaign has become so nasty, especially the recent Daily
Telegraph's attacks on Mr Shorten's mother. Which was
disgraceful."

Have been trying to find a link that highlights this attack, perhaps you'd be so good as to give a reference?

Foxy,

On poverty in Australia:

"Australia currently lacks a poverty reduction plan. As yet, we do not even have an agreed national definition of poverty, or regular monitoring and reporting by governments on progress to address it"

That's from the Foreword of "Poverty in Australia 2018"
http://www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ACOSS_Poverty-in-Australia-Report_Web-Final.pdf

I see poor people around here, Mum goes to the supermarket and buy packets of chips, white bread, lollies and other rotgut and Dad is in the bottle shop buying a couple of large packs of tinned beer.

Foxy,

The measure of poverty as used by the guardian newspaper is a common tool used by the left whinge to determine the level of poverty. By using the benchmark of 50% of the median income this guarantees that roughly 25% of the population will be in "poverty".

By this measure my son who has completed uni and gone out on his own and earns roughly the benchmark figure for a single person is living in a share house in Sydney and after rent has enough to eat well, party with friends and put aside a small amount to travel.

You and I clearly have very different ideas as to the definition of poverty.

Gentlemen,

We are told in the "Poverty in Australia Report 2018"
that Australia currently lacks a poverty reduction plan.
And that as yet we do not even have an agreed national
definition of poverty or a regular monitoring and
reporting by governments on progress to address it.

The Poverty in Australia Report seeks in part to fill this
gap to ensure that the Australian community understands the
prevalence and profile of poverty in Australia.

It uses the latest data from the ABS (Australian Bureau
of Statistics).

I suggest that you read the report - because it found that
despite Australia enjoying consistent economic growth over
the last 3 decades and is currently ranked as the 2nd
wealthiest country in the world - poverty rates have
remained entrenched at a high level. We're told that there
are (as stated earlier) more than 3 million people living
below the poverty line in Australia, including 739,000
children.

The research also shows that most of those affected are
living in deep poverty, on average a disturbing $135 per
week below the poverty line.

Unsirprisingly those experiencing poverty at the highest
rates are those relying on government allowances -
Youth allowance (64%) and Newstart (55%).

This report is the 2nd in a five year partnership between
the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and the
University of New South Wales.

The following link explains further:

http://www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Acoss_Poverty-in-Australia-Report_Web-Final.pdf