Politics with Michelle Grattan: Andrew Hastie on foreign influence, security and veteran mental health
In this podcast, Andrew Hastie speaks with Michelle Grattan about growing concerns over Chinese influence in Australian politics, security clearances for politicians and the mental health of veterans.
Tim Watts on Australia’s changing identity
The Conversation, CC BY37.7 MB(download)
Tim Watts joins Michelle Grattan to discuss his new book, The Golden Country, in which he reconciles his family's past and present, and explores the question of what it means to be Australian.
As the rhetoric around Chinese interference in Australia intensifies – most recently with the Gladys Liu allegations – Chinese-Australians have become ‘collateral damage’.
Arthur Sinodinos with some reflections and advice
The Conversation, CC BY32.9 MB(download)
As Arthur Sinodinos prepares to leave the Senate for his new role as Australian ambassador to the US, he sits with Michelle Grattan to reflect on his time in politics.
Another stormy week in federal parliament has seen debate around Gladys Liu’s alleged links to China and the ethics of the government’s push to drug-test Newstart recipients.
Liu’s disastrous interview on Sky News forced the government into a full scale defence of her, saying that Labor, in pursuing her, was being “xenophobic” and “grubby”.
Following a politically disastrous interview, Liberal MP Gladys Liu has issued a statement strongly proclaiming her loyalty to Australia and her support for the government’s policy on China.
With serious questions being raised about Liu’s possible links to United Front organisations in Australia, a dark cloud could continue to hang over both her and the Liberal Party.
United Front’s mission is to unite those who can help the Communist Party achieve its goals and neutralise its critics. This includes many influential members of the Chinese diaspora.