Minister for Education Jason Clare and deputy leader of the Coalition Sussan Ley have found common ground and united to slam China over comments accusing Australia of “systemic racism” and “hate crimes”.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Li Jian unleashed the barrage on Thursday after Australian ambassador to the United Nations James Larsen raised concern about human rights abuses in Tibet and Xinjiang.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jason Clare and Sussan Ley lash China over incendiary comments.
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“Australia, long plagued by systemic racism and hate crimes, has severely violated the rights of refugees and immigrants and left Indigenous people with vulnerable living conditions,” Li Jian told a press conference, The Australian reported.
“Australian soldiers have committed abhorrent crimes in Afghanistan and other countries during their military operations overseas.
“These Western countries turn a blind eye to their severe human rights issues at home but in the meantime point their fingers at other countries. This says a lot about their hypocrisy on human rights.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already called out the attack, saying Australia would not be deterred from addressing human rights abuses.
On Friday, Nat Barr was joined by Clare and Ley on Sunrise, where they responded to the comments.
“I think we’re the best multicultural country in the world and an example of how to get it right,” Clare said.
“When you think about it, we are made up of people from all around the world living in harmony. That sends a message given what’s happening around the world.
“It doesn’t mean we’re perfect. No country is perfect. We’ve seen the rise of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Australia, and we know the terrible conditions many Indigenous people live in.
“No one is perfect and we have things to do. We have to crack on and do it,” he said.
Clare added he was unconcerned about Australia’s relationship with China, saying it was in a “better condition,” than two years ago but that it “didn’t mean we have to agree on everything”.
Ley, was equally outraged by the verbal attack, labelling it “disrespectful and factually incorrect commentary we’ve come to expect from the Chinese Communist Party”.
“It usually means they’re sensitive about something. Australia is the most successful multicultural nation in the world. That includes the more than one million Chinese-Australians who we love and cherish.
“There’s no equivalence between Australia and China when it comes to a human rights record.
“You only have to look at their crushing of democracy in Hong Kong … I would simply say silence on human rights is never the price of a flight to Beijing.”
