風蕭蕭_Frank
以文會友
'Stupid' anti-China rhetoric puts economy and jobs at risk: McGowan
Having earlier this month handed down a sixth consecutive budget surplus, Mr McGowan said east coast politicians, commentators and other “elites” misunderstood the WA economy, and resented his state for its success.
“愚蠢”的反華言論使經濟和就業麵臨風險：麥高恩
Tom Rabe 西澳政治通訊員 2023 年 5 月 22 日
西澳大利亞州州長馬克·麥高恩警告聯邦同行不要對中國發表“極其愚蠢”和仇外的言論，並稱他以前的澳大利亞海軍軍官生涯是影響他對與該國最大貿易夥伴的外交關係看法的關鍵。
本月早些時候，麥高恩先生連續第六次公布預算盈餘，他說東海岸的政界人士、評論員和其他“精英”誤解了西澳經濟，並對他所在州的成功感到不滿。
中國占西澳出口的一半以上，該國對鐵礦石的需求幫助推動了該州的經濟並增加了預算。
麥高恩先生說，隻有與這個地區大國發展牢固的關係，澳大利亞的安全才會得到改善，他堅稱這種關係可以在不損害與美國和英國現有聯盟的情況下繁榮發展。
“當我在海軍服役時，我記得我第一次乘軍艦出海時，有人說我們將如何在 10 年或更長時間內與印度尼西亞開戰，”他告訴《澳大利亞金融評論報》。
“他們是我們在 1990 年代初擔心的人。
“這一切都消失了，因為我們與他們的關係很好。
“我是一名前海軍軍官，我實際上認為與我們地區的國家建立友好和富有成效的關係有利於我們的安全。”
McGowan 先生針對聯邦反對黨領袖 Peter Dutton 和西澳自由黨議員 Andrew Hastie 對中國的立場進行了抨擊。
“他們讓自己陷入了狂熱之中，”他說。
“我認為自由黨或國民黨認為這有政治優勢，但破壞澳大利亞經濟和數十萬人失業有什麽政治優勢呢？
“他們似乎認為，有時與擁有核武器的超級大國開戰是個好主意。 我隻是覺得那非常愚蠢和危險。 我認為這是政治性的，因為我認為他們認為仇外心理有效，但我認為大多數澳大利亞人比這更明智。”
達頓先生去年表示，澳大利亞需要為未來幾年的戰爭前景做準備，堅稱該國“挺身而出”並“注視”來自中國等國家的任何侵略行為。
McGowan 在最近對中國進行貿易訪問期間被錄音，稱 Hastie 先生“吞下了某種冷戰藥片”，他也警告過中國對太平洋地區的威脅。
周三在珀斯舉行的澳大利亞金融評論礦業峰會之前，麥高恩先生否認西澳過於依賴鐵礦石，該商品在 2022-23 年為該州帶來了近 100 億美元的特許權使用費。
“有什麽選擇，我們停止銷售它？ 你想讓我們放棄我們的市場嗎？ 你想讓我們說‘不，我們要阻止’它是一個巨大的就業創造者並產生大量收入，”他說。
“這有點像對日本說‘你們是不是太依賴電子和汽車工業了’。 這就是我們所做的。”
盡管如此，麥高恩政府在本月的預算中撥款近 50 億美元用於該州經濟多元化的舉措，包括在德克薩斯州建立新的投資中心以促進與美洲地區的貿易，以及旨在加速重要礦產發現的地球科學計劃。 哇。
周四，第二任州長對聯邦財長吉姆查默斯 (Jim Chalmers) 發表的評論表示歡迎，即聯邦政府沒有計劃修改西澳 70 美分的商品及服務稅下限，但表示他不會放鬆警惕。
McGowan 先生表示，他還不能宣布在曠日持久的商品及服務稅鬥爭中取得勝利，並警告未來的聯邦領導人要避開其他州領導人所呼籲的改革。
“如果有人再次越過那條線，他們將在西澳遭受可怕的政治和選民強烈反對，這基本上是理所當然的，”他說。
“他們中的很多人不了解西澳大利亞州所做貢獻的性質，我認為他們中的一些人對此表示反感，他們也反感被告知這一點。 我理解 [that] 因為我在新南威爾士州和昆士蘭州長大……如果你沒來過這裏，你就不會理解。”
在回應 McGowan 先生的批評時，前 SAS 上尉和影子國防部長 Hastie 先生表示，西澳州長應該閱讀國防戰略評估，其中提到了中國的軍事建設和戰略意圖。
“總理學得慢。 我敦促他閱讀 Albanese 政府的《國防戰略評論》，並更新他過時的盲目樂觀的世界觀，”Hastie 先生說。
“我們將與工黨密切合作，製定關鍵立法，以實現這一切。 我確實想知道為什麽總理對 AUKUS 如此矛盾。”
聯係了達頓先生的辦公室征求意見。
WA Premier Mark McGowan speaking to The Australian Financial Review at his Perth office. Ross Swanborough
China accounts for more than half of WA’s exports and the country’s appetite for iron ore has helped propel the state’s economy and bolster its budget.
Australia’s security would only be improved by developing strong ties with the regional power, Mr McGowan said, insisting the relationship could prosper without damaging existing alliances with the United States and United Kingdom.
“When I was in the navy I remember the first time I went to sea on a warship I had guys saying how we’re going to be at war with Indonesia within 10 years or something,” he told The Australian Financial Review.
“They were the ones that we were worried about back in the early 1990s.
“That’s all disappeared because we have a good relationship with them.
“I’m an ex-naval officer, I actually have the view that having friendly and productive relationships with countries in our region is good for our security.”
Mr McGowan took aim at federal opposition leader Peter Dutton and WA Liberal MP Andrew Hastie over their positions on China.
“They’ve worked themselves up into a frenzy,” he said.
“I think the Liberals or Nationals think there’s political advantage in it, but how is there political advantage in wrecking the Australian economy and hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs?
“They seem to think going to war with a nuclear armed superpower is a good idea sometimes. I just find that incredibly stupid and dangerous. I think it’s political because I think they think xenophobia works, but I think most Australians are more sensible than that.”
Mr Dutton last year said Australia needed to prepare for the prospect of war in coming years, insisting the country “stand up” and “stare down” any acts of aggression from nations like China.
McGowan was caught on tape during a recent trade visit to China saying Mr Hastie, who has also warned of China’s threat to the Pacific region, had “swallowed some sort of Cold War pills”.
Speaking ahead of The Australian Financial Review Mining Summit in Perth on Wednesday, Mr McGowan denied WA was too reliant on iron ore, with the commodity earning the state almost $10 billion in royalties in 2022-23.
“What is the alternative, we stop selling it? Do you want us to give up our markets? Do you want us to say ‘no, we’re going to block that’ it’s a big employment generator and generates massive amounts of revenue,” he said.
“It’s a bit like saying to Japan ‘are you too reliant on electronics and car industry’. This is what we do.”
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan on the steps of state parliament last Thursday.
Despite this, the McGowan government allocated close to half a billion dollars in this month’s budget to initiatives to diversify the state economy, including a new investment hub in Texas to boost trade with the Americas region and a geoscience program aimed at accelerating critical mineral discovery in WA.
The second-term premier welcomed comments by federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Thursday that the Commonwealth government had no plans to tinker with WA’s 70¢ GST floor, but said he would not let his guard down.
Mr McGowan said he could not yet claim victory in the long-running GST battle, and warned future federal leaders to steer clear of reforms called for by other state leaders.
“If anyone ever crosses that line again, they’ll suffer dire political and voter backlash in WA, that’s basically a given,” he said.
“A lot of them don’t understand the nature of the contribution WA makes, and I think some of them resent it, and they resent being told it. I understand [that] because I grew up in NSW and Queensland ... when you haven’t been here, you don’t understand it.”
Responding to Mr McGowan’s criticisms, former SAS captain and shadow defence minister Mr Hastie said the WA premier should read the National Defence Strategic Review, which references China’s military build-up and strategic intent.
“The premier is a slow learner. I urge him to read the Albanese government’s Defence Strategic Review, and update his antiquated Pollyanna worldview,” Mr Hastie said.
“We are about to work very closely with Labor on key legislation to make all of this happen. I do wonder why the Premier is so ambivalent towards AUKUS.”
Mr Dutton’s office was contacted for comment.
