WARRINGAH MP Zali Steggall has come under blistering criticism after rejecting calls for a “diplomatic” boycott of China’s Winter Olympics.
A diplomatic boycott would see Australia refuse to send government representatives and embassy officials to the Beijing games – while athletes and coaches would be free to attend.
- Diplomatic boycott under consideration as UK makes move.
- Ms Steggall could be prevented from attending in her official MP capacity.
- Online response to Ms Steggall has been scathing.
Under such a move, the former Winter Olympian could be prevented from attending the Games using Australian taxpayer funds.
Britain voted to implement a diplomatic boycott in July in response to China’s well-documented human rights abuses.
PUNISH
Ms Steggall, however, said such a move could shut down communication channels with the Communist Party – and punish athletes.
“The Olympic Games can open the door for better diplomatic relations and at the end of the day, we can’t resolve or progress any of these issues by shutting the door to communication,” she said.
“I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interests that we have an escalation of conflict.
“There should be further discussion as to what could be achieved by such a diplomatic boycott.
“We are happy to trade with China so it is hypocritical to make athletes pay the price for diplomatic policy.”
Online comments, however, came thick and fast criticising Ms Steggall’s pro-China stance.
SURPRISE
“Left winger [Zali] doesn’t support anything that might sting China. No surprise there,” wrote MJ from Sydney.
“[Zali’s] another politician of the Left that takes the other country’s side against Australia. Shameful,” Dexxter said.
While John wrote: “Totalitarian States have a long history of using the Olympics for their own purposes. Obviously, this woke attention seeker is blind to that.”
Perhaps the most exhaustive criticism came from Jacqui.
She wrote: “It’s easy to mock people like Zali Steggal. Doubtless well-intentioned they are literally clueless.
“The world kept the lines of communication open with Germany by attending the 1936 Olympics but that did not discourage Hitler from starting World War II.
“The problem with murderous autocrats is that Olympic Games or no Olympic Games, they remain murderous autocrats.
“Zali should continue to save the world from bad weather in 2100 and leave intelligent thought about real problems to those who understand them.”PC
Zali only comments here because it may jeprodise her attending. It’s all about Zali. No substance.
Not confused. Just a puposeful wrecker in the Build Back Better camp.
A waste of space
Zali Stegall should be gone after the next federal election provided that the liberals choose a decent candidate to stand against her, so what she says or does meantime will probably soon be forgotten. An increasingly ‘woke’ and spoilt seat of Warringah bears the collective shame of electing her to public office, given her hopeless lack of form, and inability to advance their interests on any front. What were these halfwit climate change zealots thinking!
Assumedly this time round self interest will prevail over stupidity, though of course you never can tell, as the mindsets of many spoilt and intellectually impaired voters in that seat are not amenable to advancing their community cause.
We are not all stupid here, remember we had Tony Abbott for some time and “get up”, that gang of morons did a number on that election. Who funds that rabble?
Like so many politicians, she is an empty headed fool who lives in what purports to be a series of thought bubbles.
Zali Steggall should be reminded if there is a boycott it would not affect the athletes or coaches and it only applies to officials which is no bad thing. So she would miss out on a tax payers funded trip. Anyway why should she go and who said she is entitled to go ?
Zarli was a fake candidate of the Greens Get up and Green Liberals!
She has done nothing in parliament except embarrass herself and her electorate!
How is a diplomatic boycott in our interests? Unless there is benefit to us, don’t go ahead with it.
How does Australia benefit from having a diplomatic boycott put in place? If this is not in our best interests don’t do it.
“The Olympic Games can open the door for better diplomatic relations and at the end of the day […]”
Sure, just like the Berlin Olympics in 1936.
Clearly the ill-educated and empty-headed woman who is keeping warm an MP’s seat in Warringah knows as much about history as she does about climate “science”.
How did this woman even get pre-selected, let alone elected?