AUSTRALIAN soldiers have been ordered not to engage in cross-gender dress-ups as new Defence Minister Peter Dutton prepares the armed forces for possible conflict. After years of governments pandering to a military obsessed with gender fluidity and political correctness, Mr Dutton has finally told the armed services to “get back to business”.
MEN in the Mirror, Sky News Australia’s excellent documentary by Chris Kenny on the awful similarities between those two prime ministerial disasters, Rudd and Turnbull, should be followed by one on the media’s role supporting their ascension and, in particular, the commentariat’s role in downing John Howard and Tony Abbott.
SHADOW Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong’s sustained defence of China is “worse than appeasement”, according to legal academic and political historian Prof David Flint. The long-serving Australian Labor senator has repeatedly sided with Team China, even as it unleashed havoc on Australian farmers, fishers, miners and businesses.
THE Chinese regime’s mouthpiece, Global Times, has criticised Australia’s increased national security spending, accusing Canberra of “further escalating regional confrontation”. The newspaper’s report on Wednesday titled “Canberra’s Defence Spending Means More Economic Carnage,” also accused Australia of “relentless and unreasonable provocations” and warned of retaliation.
INDIA will proceed with 5G wireless technology and spectrum trials, inviting equipment makers from various nations – except China. Experts say India is keeping Chinese 5G firms such as Huawei and ZTE out of its massive market because of last year’s border disputes and because the exclusion will economically hurt Chinese entities.
CHINA continues to be completely unnerved by Australia despite its economic strength and growing military might. After more than 70 years controlling its own citizens – by force if necessary – the Chinese Communist Party is increasingly frustrated at not being able to control Australians.
THE US State Department will soon sign-off a A$2.6b arms deal to the Australian government for 160 new Abrams tanks and four Chinook helicopters. The sale comes amid Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s pledge last year to increase defence spending in response to rising geopolitical tension in the Indo-Pacific region.
GRASSROOTS Liberal Party members have pleaded for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to follow China’s lead if his government does decide to set emissions targets. With the Party wracked with conflicting carbon emissions goals – and WA & NSW divisions effectively going rogue – Party members have called for a return to a sensible and unified approach.
US STATE Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States supports Australia’s decision to cancel two Belt & Road Initiative arrangements with Beijing. “We continue to stand with the people of Australia as they bear the brunt of the PRC’s coercive behaviour,” Mr Price said.
FEDERAL Senator Jacqui Lambie has publicly questioned whether Andrews government MPs “personally” benefitted from secret Belt & Road negotiations with the Chinese Communist Party. In a scathing interview on Sky News’ First Edition yesterday Ms Lambie said the Victorian Labor government was “off its head” and “absolutely nuts”. She said full details of Mr Andrews deal were still to be learned.
