Business groups are urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take a delegation of corporation chiefs with him to China when he visits later this year, as the opposition warned the PM had to deliver tangible outcomes rather than allow the trip to be used as Communist Party propaganda.
With Mr Albanese’s schedule tightly packed with other overseas travel commitments including two US trips, as well as campaigning for the Voice referendum on October 14 and five parliamentary sitting weeks remaining, the window is narrowing. Chair of the Business Council of Australia’s global engagement committee, Warwick Smith, said businesses had offered to participate in a China visit, similar to how top chief executives such as Wesfarmers’ Rob Scott or Commonwealth Bank boss Matt Comyn were part of the delegations forWhile a travel date of late October/early November has been suggested because that would coincide with the 50th anniversary of Gough Whitlam’s first visit by an Australian PM to China, Mr Smith said the China...
Former prime minister Scott Morrison last week reportedly told the Coalition party room that Mr Albanese should not rush to visit China lest it be seen as too concessional and acquiescent towards Beijing.