Intelligence Deputy, Former Speaker Slams Labor on China Appeasement at PowerfulProtest at Parliament

Nearly 200 outraged protestors took over the lawns of Parliament today in protest to a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating and current Labor Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong.

Sunshine Coast MP, Andrew Wallace, is one of the Parliament’s most outspoken critics of China’s authoritarian regime and appalling human rights records. The Deputy Chair of the powerful Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security spoke at the rally, highlighting the growing threat and actual incidents of Chinese foreign interference in Australia and amongst the Chinese-Australian diaspora.

Invoking the story of Judas betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, the 31st Speaker of the House of Representatives called out the Australian Labor Government’s breach of faith with Australians and their democratic allies in the Uyghur, Turkic, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Tibetan communities. He also called for vigilance and for perseverance in the fight to defend democracy and combat corruption.

“We are seeing unprecedented amounts of foreign intelligence and foreign interference within the democratic process in Australia, and we cannot allow that to happen unchecked,” Mr Wallace told the crowd.

“This Federal Government is so motivated to try and “restore” the relationship with China that it is prepared to overlook the human rights abuses that the Chinese Communist Party are overseeing across the world,” Mr Wallace said.

“We will not let this Government sell out our souls to the Chinese Government for 30 pieces of silver,” Mr Wallace continued, adding, “Be loud, because we can’t hear you in Parliament House. Make lots of noise.”

Mr Wallace, who represented Australia at the United Nations in 2023, has previously spoken out on a number of international incidents, including:

·   Russia’s unlawful and immoral war against Ukraine;

·   The Iranian regime’s abhorrent involvement in domestic and international terror and gender-based violence; and

·   The ongoing and egregious crimes perpetrated by Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists against innocent Israeli citizens.

“The price we pay for peace and democracy is eternal vigilance. It is a duty for all Australians to protect and promote the freedoms we enjoy today. May we never lose sight of just how great a price was paid for them,” Mr Wallace concluded.