Having observed some of the behaviour of members of our Government over the recent few days I have but one plea to them. Please do not make this an election campaign that revolves around the demonization of our major trading partner, China.
My reasons for asking that are two-fold. On the one hand we have had a period of some two or so years of horrendous business and economic conditions for all but the large retailers. Let us not prolong their penance for any longer than we need to. The restoration of trade with China is critical to the survival of some of these businesses.
Secondly, and possibly just as importantly there are currently around 1.3 million people in Australia who identify as being of Chinese ancestry. At the start of the pandemic they became the target of racists as the great ill-minded undertook a form of retaliation that defied not just logic but any form of equity.
Now, because of the behaviour of our politicians in attempting to sink lower than their opponents, we are reviving that hatred.
We must not allow this to continue.
Suresh Rajan