Showing posts with label foreign affairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foreign affairs. Show all posts
Friday, 16 November 2018
Australia’s Trump Lite is overseas seeing what other trade opportunities he can wreck
The Australian, 13 November 2018, p.2:
Scott Morrison has
mounted the strongest defence of any allied leader so far of Donald Trump’s trade policies,
denying that Washington has turned protectionist because of its imposition of
tariffs on China.
“The US wants to see
greater trade and more open trade and they want to see it
on better terms,” the Prime Minister told The Australian in an interview in his
Sydney office. “It is yet to be established that the US is pursuing a
protectionist policy.”
Mr Morrison said he did not agree with the
protectionist interpretation of the administration’s trade policy.
Mr Morrison leaves
today on a trip to Singapore and Papua New Guinea for APEC and ASEAN-related
summits, during which he will meet US Vice-President Mike Pence, Chinese
President Xi Jinping, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a range of regional
leaders.
He gave a distinctive
reading of US trade policy.
“If I could summarise US
policy, it is that what they’ve been doing until now has not produced that
(freer trade) so there should not be an expectation that they’ll continue
to do things the way they have been.” But Mr Morrison makes a
controversial judgment: “That doesn’t mean their objective has changed — their
objective being a more open, freer trading system around the world, with a
rules-based order, and everybody respecting those rules and those rules not
being stacked against any one group.
“They have particular
views about how things affect them, then there are other issues around
intellectual property and so on where we have said there are some real issues
here and things that need to be resolved.” Stressing that it was too early to
conclude that the US had made a long-term switch to protectionism, he said:
“You can only judge it on the results, not the rhetoric, so let’s see.”
Mr Morrison cited the trade deals the Trump administration
had done with Canada and Mexico and said many commentators saw early Trump trade moves
against those nations as indicating long-term protectionism, but the result was
new trade deals.
Mr Morrison also
stressed that his government was not taking a position for or against the US or
China in their trade dispute: “We’re not really judging either party in
this because we trade with both and we’ve been successful (with
both), whether it’s staying clear of US tariffs on steel and aluminium or with
China, which is our biggest trading partner.
“We maintain a pragmatic
balance.” This is Mr Morrison’s first Asian summit season, but soon
after the APEC and East Asia summits he will attend a G20 summit, where he will
meet the US President.
Early yesterday, in an
interview with David Speers on Sky TV, he slightly misstated government policy
when he said definitively that territory in the South China Sea was not Chinese
territory.
He cleared this up in a
series of later interviews, confirming that Canberra does not take a position
on the merits of respective nations’ claims to territory in the South China Sea……
BACKGROUND
Crikey,
12 November 2018:
Morrison’s “stop
asking questions from the Labor Party” diktat to the ABC has taken
Australia one step closer to a political discourse dominated by Trumpian
semiotics of “fake news” and “enemies of the people”.
Like Trump, Morrison’s
aim was to undermine the media — and particularly the ABC — in the minds of
that mythical creature, the Liberal Party base, and help out News Corp on the
way through.
It came in the same week
that Trump ramped-up his own war on journalists: revoking
White House clearance from CNN’s Jim Acosta, dismissing another
reporter’s “stupid
questions” and calling a third a “loser”.
For a journalist, Morrison’s
insult is greater. Trump’s name-calling is straight out of the primary school
playground; Morrison’s crack goes to the heart of personal and craft integrity…..
The “journalist as enemy
of the people” trope is perhaps the most institutionally damaging part of
Trumpian semiotics adopted by Morrison. But it’s not the only one.
He seems to be aiming
for the Trump look, too. There’s the now-ubiquitous base-ball cap, with
Australian branding substituting “Make America Great Again”. There’s the single
thumbs-up to say “we’re in this together” to go along with the trademark Trump
two handed thumbs-up.
The social media of
choice — multi-platform video snippets — similarly taunt with a “laugh-at-me or
laugh-with-me, but notice me” Trump sensibility.
His prime ministerial
speech patterns reflect both the Trumpian blather of his opening press
statement (“a fair go for those who have a go”) interspersed with the
cut-through insults: “Bill Shorten is union bred, union fed, union led.”
Morrison’s insults do have somewhat more political content than the
personalised “Lyin Ted”, and “Little Marco” that Trump pulled out during the
2016 election.
Policy commitments tend
to be the same vague generalities (“we’re gonna fix this”) and he uses the same
thought bubble technique (Jerusalem, anyone?) to focus the debate on him, for
good or ill.
Meanwhile, Trump has
shown he’s willing to learn from Australia, as he famously suggested in his “you’re
worse than I am” compliment to Turnbull. The “migrant
caravan” that dominated right-wing discourse in the lead-up to the US
mid-terms would have chimed in Australian minds with the familiar sound:
Tampa, Manus, Nauru.
Labels:
foreign affairs,
right wing politics,
Scott Morrison,
trade,
Trump Lite
Thursday, 15 November 2018
Has Morrison's loose lips sunk the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
The populous Indonesian archipelago is one of our nearest northern neighbours. This predominantly Muslim nation is a significant trading partner which purchased $7.03 billion worth of goods and services from Australian business/industry in 2017.
On 24 August
2018 when Scott John Morrison walked
over the political corpse of Malcolm
Bligh Turnbull to become Australia’s 30th prime minister the Indonesia-Australia
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was well on its way to
being signed by both governments.
Australia and
Indonesia announced the
substantive conclusion of negotiations on the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive
Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) on 31 August 2018. This agreement will
launch a new chapter in economic relations between Australia and Indonesia…..
Indonesia is a growing
market for Australian goods and services exporters. In 2017, total two-way
trade in goods and services with Indonesia was worth $16.4 billion, making
Indonesia our 13th largest trading partner. IA-CEPA will provide Australian and
Indonesian businesses an opportunity to expand and diversify this economic
partnership.
IA-CEPA builds on
commitments under our existing free trade agreement, the ASEAN-Australia-New
Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) across goods, services and investment.
In addition to reducing
non-tariff barriers to trade and simplifying paperwork, IA-CEPA will allow 99%
of Australia's goods exports to enter Indonesia duty free or with significantly
improved preferential arrangements. All Indonesia's goods exports will enter
Australia duty free.
IA-CEPA will improve
conditions for services suppliers and the climate for two-way investment.
Australian services suppliers and investors will have greater certainty for
entry and operation in the Indonesian market, helping to facilitate more
Australian investment in Indonesia. This will create more opportunities for
Australians to help meet Indonesia's growing needs for investment and for the
supply of world class services in its market.
Both sides will 'scrub'
the full text of the agreement, to verify its accuracy and internal legal
consistency. The agreement will be translated into Indonesian with the
Indonesian and English versions being equally authentic. Once translated,
the agreement will be ready for formal signature. The full text of the
agreement will be released publicly once it has been signed.
After signature,
Australia and Indonesia will then follow their domestic treaty making processes
to bring IA-CEPA into force. For Australia, this will include tabling the text
of the agreement in Parliament and an inquiry by the Joint Standing Committee on
Treaties (JSCOT). [my yellow highlighting]
By Day 81 of his time as prime minister Morrison had managed to publicly offend moderate Muslims here and around the world not once but twice and, the Agreement which was to be signed before the end of the week has now been delayed indefinitely by Indonesia.
Scott Morrison captain's call over the status of Jerusalem in particular was a grave error -based as it was on Pentacoastal teachings and not existing Australia Government policy.
He needs to think before he opens his mouth in future.
Friday, 15 December 2017
About that political influence on domestic affairs on the part of foreign powers, Prime Minister Turnbull.....
According to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Bligh Turnbull; "Foreign powers are making unprecedented and increasingly sophisticated attempts to influence the political process, both here and abroad."
He went on to excoriate the Labor Party in parliament last week with regard to its contacts with Chinese nationals.
This week the primary subject of Turnbull's verbal attacks announced his resignation from the Australian Parliament.
However, this week also brings news from Western Australia which demonstrates just how hypocritical is the prime minister’s political posturing.
When it comes to close association with or susceptibility to foreign influence, Malcolm Turnbull is engaging in a classic example of the pot calling the kettle black.
By way of background…..
Political donations to the Liberal Party & fund raising at West Australian level involving The 500 Club and companies/individuals having ties to the People’s Republic of China in 2015-16:
The 500 Club (WA) - $15,000, $20,000, $20,000, $20,000, $20,000, $30,000, $55,000
Chaoshan No 1 Pty Ltd ATF Legpro 30 Unit Trust (Chinese billionaire Xiangmo Huang is a director) - $10,000, $20,000,
Hong Kong Kingson Investments (Australian-Chinese billionaire Chau Chak Wing) - $200,000, $200,000
Kingold Group (Chinese-born billionaire Chau Chak Wing) - $200,000
Political donations to the Liberal Party & fund raising at Federal level involving The 500 Club and companies/individuals having ties to the People’s Republic of China in 2015-16:
The 500 Club (WA) - nil
Hong Kong Kingson Investments - $400,000, $100,000, 10,000
Of course neither Western Australia nor the Liberal Party are alone in receiving political donations from Chinese interests and readers can click on this searchable database
http://democracyforsale.net/search-aec/ to view declared donations from all sources going back to 1998-99.
The connection between political parties and big business which appears to be cemented by these donations has long been a troublesome aspect of federal and state election processes, with ABC News reporting in December 2016; Declared donations and payments to Australian political parties are about to top $1 billion, a new analysis of data shows.
Businesses with Chinese connection donated more than $5.5 million between 2013 and 2015 - a breakdown of these donations can be found here.
Then there is the matter of undeclared donations and other undeclared income.
According to
GetUp!:
Australian law requires
all payments to politicians over $13,200 to be publicly declared - an
important public transparency measure to stop corruption.
But right now there are some gaping legal loopholes that see tens of millions of dollars funnelled into the pockets of our politicians with no oversight, no accountability.
By piecing together fragments of publicly available data, our research reveals the full extent of hidden 'Dark Money' flooding our political system…..
But right now there are some gaping legal loopholes that see tens of millions of dollars funnelled into the pockets of our politicians with no oversight, no accountability.
By piecing together fragments of publicly available data, our research reveals the full extent of hidden 'Dark Money' flooding our political system…..
Last election the
Liberal Party transparently declared only 13% of their total private income.
The Liberal Party
declared $8.98 million transparently, funnelled a further $5.5
million of donations through "affiliated entities", and
listed $8.97 million as "other receipts". A full $45.9
million of their income was undisclosed Dark Money.
Last election the Labor
Party transparently declared 21% of their total private income.
Labor declared $10.4
million transparently and listed $15 million as "other
receipts" (note: Labor listed all income from affiliated entities as
"other receipts"). A full $24.4 million of their income was
entirely undisclosed Dark Money.
Make no mistake, it is not the intention of the Turnbull Government to turn off the foreign donation tap, no matter what the current rhetoric. If NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption investigations have shown us anything, it is that politicians, political parties and vested interests are highly creative in how they deliver/receive banned political donations.
Sunday, 20 November 2016
Powerless to rein in diplomats' excesses the Australian Government decides to name and shame
News media have been reporting on the flagrant disregard of Australian law by members of the diplomatic community for decades and finally in the Australian Capital Territory they are trying a new approach to traffic violations by diplomats.
ABC News, 17 November 2016:
Foreign diplomats who disregard Australian law will be named and shamed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade amid a crack-down on reckless driving.
The department has struck a deal with the ACT Government to ensure diplomats are no longer immune to having their licences suspended for serious offences that endanger the public.
Freedom of Information documents reveal the crack-down was prompted by concerns about a litany of offences on Canberra roads involving excessive speed and, on occasion, drink-driving.
One Saudi diplomat received a $1,811 fine after being caught travelling at 135 kilometres per hour near Parliament House at 2:00am on a Tuesday.
Another told police he had not had anything to drink despite returning a blood alcohol reading of 0.15, triple the legal limit.
DFAT's chief of protocol briefed 90 diplomats on the new rules in August and "strongly reiterated the message of compliance with Australia's laws".
Internal documents showed the department would no longer be redacting the names of diplomats who broke the law and refused to pay fines.
"[It is] DFAT's view the embassies/high commissions should face the reputational consequences if their officers disrespect the road rules or drive recklessly," the document said.
"This is a fundamental issue of safety. We expect diplomats not only to obey the law, but also to pay fines without delay."
The department has battled to get foreign diplomats to pay their fines for years causing frustration for staff, the police and the ACT Government…..
The documents revealed the department would not disclose a small number of offences because they "had the potential to damage Australia's international relations with some countries".
"In addition, the information released on this occasion includes advice on the new demerit point system for diplomats to be implemented in the ACT under which diplomats will no longer be immune from having their licenses subject to suspension for three months if they incur a total of 12 demerit points or more within a three-year period," one document said.
In the case of serious traffic infringements, DFAT's chief of protocol can request that ambassadors or high commissioners "express concern" to their diplomats or ultimately, cancel a diplomatic visa…..
BACKGROUND
The Canberra Times, 16 November 2016:
A Russian diplomat in Canberra has agreed to apologise over an incident where he allegedly went into a road rage against a young female motorist in the capital last month.
The apology comes after MP Gai Brodtmann alleged two Russian diplomats threatened and bullied the motorist after one of the embassy staffers drove his car into hers at the Coles supermarket car park in Manuka.
The Labor MP says "consular staff from the Russian Embassy allegedly flouting local laws and threatening residents are the latest shocking example of diplomats putting the safety of the Canberra community at risk."
The diplomat in question Edward Shakirov said he and his colleagues found Ms Brodtmann's allegations "surprising" but he would try to resolve the matter with an apology to the other motorist.
Russian diplomats in Canberra have a well established record for racking up speeding and other traffic offences on the city's roads and then refusing to pay the fines, citing diplomatic immunity.
At the last count, the Embassy had more than 250 fines for speeding, illegal parking, running red lights and other offences around Canberra with local authorities powerless to to anything but send "courtesy letters".
In the latest incident diplomat Sergei Letiagin is alleged to have driven into the car belonging to young public servant Erika Bacon in a minor car park bingle.
According to Ms Brodtmann's letter of complaint to the Russian Ambassador, Mr Letiagin was unable to speak to Ms Bacon in English, so he summoned a colleague, Edward Shakirov, from the nearby Embassy.
Ms Bacon's account, backed up by witnesses at the scene, is that the two Russians then tried to bully her into accepting liability for the damage to her car.
Ms Bacon, a former employee of Fairfax Media, called police after, she alleges, the Russians became aggressive and threatening to her and to the passers-by who tried to help.
Canberra police and federal agents arrived to calm the situation down…..
Sydney Criminal Lawyers, excerpt, 7 October 2016:
Get Out of Gaol Free
One foreign official was caught driving at 135km/h at 2am, triggering a high speed police chase when he failed to pull over. After eventually stopping, the man failed to produce a driver licence of any description and blamed the incident on forgetting to take his antibiotics. A driver would ordinarily be charged with 'police pursuit' – or 'Skye's law' – a serious offence which can lead to full time imprisonment. However, he could not be charged due to his status as a diplomat.
Other examples include a diplomat who drove with a high range blood alcohol concentration of 0.15, and a Mexican Embassy staffer who refused to comply with a breath test, telling police:
"I don't want to, so I don't have to. I'm here with my family … I'll complain If I hear anything about this".
In another case, a Saudi Arabian diplomat was caught speeding through an intersection at 107km/h in an 80km/h zone. He refused to stop for police sparking a chase, which police ultimately discontinued due to safety concerns. Again, he could not be charged.
Diplomatic Relations and Immunity
Diplomatic immunity arises from the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, which was adopted into Australian law by section 7 of the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act of 1967.
The section essentially protects diplomatic agents from being criminally prosecuted in foreign states. That immunity extends to family members, servants, administrative and technical staff.
The section is intended to promote relations between nations, but has in some cases had the opposite effect. Importantly, the immunity is not absolute as it can be waived by the diplomat's home country.
Waiving Immunity
A waiver of diplomatic immunity normally occurs when the government of the country where the alleged offence took place asks the diplomat's country of origin to waive immunity, and the latter agrees.
Cases of waiver are relatively rare. In the United States, a former Republic of Georgia diplomat who lost control of a car while driving drunk and killed a person resulted in such a waiver.
The diplomat was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and four counts of aggravated assault, and ultimately convicted and sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment.
In a case which occurred in Canada, senior Russian diplomat Andrei Knyazev lost control of his car, killing one person and seriously injuring another. He denied being intoxicated but refused a sobriety or breath test. In that case, Russia declined to waive immunity, instead prosecuting Knyazev when he returned home.
So while diplomatic immunity can enhance relations between countries, it should be used responsibly rather than as a licence to commit offences with impunity – which can result in animosity between sovereign states.
Labels:
crime,
diplomats,
foreign affairs,
roads
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