Australian factories are at risk of shutting down and sacking workers as the nation’s gas exporters starve local customers in favour of overseas clients, according to a dire warning from the competition watchdog that clears the way for a gas crackdown. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission slammed the three gas giants in a clear…
Category: Foreign affairs
US and Japan closer to importing beef to Australia
`FRESH and frozen beef from the US and Japan are a step closer to hitting Australian shores after 14 years. Trade was suspended in the early 2000s due to fears about mad cow disease, or BSE, but a final Department of Agriculture review has found trade can resume — if the countries meet Australia’s strict…
Chinese students turn on Aussie professors
Tensions rise as Chinese government’s influence infiltrates Aussie universities AUSTRALIAN educators are increasingly coming under attack from Chinese students, raising concerns their government’s influence is permeating our universities. The students have been openly complaining about Western teaching methods and ideas, and publicly demanding apologies or changes to how subjects are explored. The trend has raised…
House prices face China exodus risk, says former top US Federal Reserve Economist
Soaring house prices are vulnerable to a sharp downturn that would damage the local economy if Chinese buyers retreat from residential property in Australia, a former top US Federal Reserve official has warned.Nellie Liang, who recently visited Sydney and shared her thoughts on financial stability research with the Reserve Bank of Australia, told The Australian Financial Review policymakers…
Lethal asbestos pouring through our borders made in China
BUILDING materials laced with lethal asbestos are landing in our homes and building sites, as Chinese companies flout Australia’s ban.Australian Border Force identified a staggering 8643 shipments as “high risk” for asbestos during 2016-17, but only examined 761 — leaving 90 per cent to slip through to building sites, hardware stores and supermarkets. It seized 64…
One Belt One Road: NT businesses welcome Chinese investment despite reluctance over ‘new Silk Road’
Northern Territory businesses looking to grow in a slowing economy are turning to one of the biggest economic and geopolitical expansions the world has seen in modern times.China's One Belt One Road is a bold, trillion-dollar plan to rework the global economic order on Beijing's terms, building huge infrastructure projects along a path based on…
PM defends funding to help Indonesia boost tourism, create 10 new Balis
Malcolm Turnbull has defended Australia's decision to provide money to the World Bank to help boost Indonesian tourism and create 10 so-called "new Balis".During a trip to Broome the prime minister dismissed claims the unknown contribution would encourage Australians to skip local tourism destinations in Australia's north, like the Kimberley region in Western Australia."We are…
Chinese billionaire tried to sell Australia’s largest dairy farm before buying it
Even before Lu Xianfeng completed the $280 million purchase of Australia's largest dairy farm in April 2016, the Chinese billionaire was looking to sell.In a messy proposal, Mr Lu planned to offload his holding in the historic Van Diemen's Land Company (VDL) to a Chinese listed vehicle he controlled and raise some cash through a…
Tit- for- tat trade fear over Australian export meat ban to China
Six Australian meat companies have been barred from selling beef and lamb to China, raising concerns about the reliability of Australia’s $750 million meat export trade with the Asian powerhouse. The temporary bans are linked to meatworks in specific locations across three states, with Chinese import authorities imposing the bans because labels “did not comply”…
China has temporarily banned beef exports from several Australian meatworks,
China has temporarily banned beef exports from a number of Australian meatworks, The Australian Meat Industry Council has confirmed it is working with the federal Department of Agriculture through diplomatic channels on the issue. There are shipments currently on the water, although the ABC understands the Australian Government is hopeful it can resolve the issue…
Australian beef processors hit by China export ban
CHINA has placed temporary export bans on as many as six beef processing plants in Australia. There have been allegations the bans are in retaliation to deputy Prime Minister Julie Bishop’s comments last week over freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. One meat processor has confirmed the temporary ban to The Weekly Times….
Australia to provide funding to help Indonesia boost tourism, create 10 new Balis
Australia to provide funding to help Indonesia boost tourism, create 10 new Balis Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia has emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to try and help boost tourism in Indonesia. On Monday, Paul Grigson said Australia would be providing funding through the World Bank to help create 10 new Balis. That commitment reportedly dominated…
