Beagle Weekender Vol 178 October 23rd 2020

Page 21

reading the Chinese Communist Party should be condemned. No Australian, regardless of ethnicity, should be subject to poliBcal loyalty tests. We are all Australians first and foremost ‘In today’s environment, the loyalty of Chinese Australians will be quesBoned no maEer what our Vol 16 Septemberor15th 2017 achievements records. Vol 28 December 7th, 2017 It doesn’t maEer that I have served in the Australian public service for eight years Vol 48 111April July 27th 12th 2018 2019

across three departments, working on a range of domesBc and internaBonal policy issues to advance the naBonal interest. ‘It doesn’t maEer that I regularly criBque the Chinese government over its foreign and domesBc policies. It doesn’t maEer that I might have endangered my family in China by speaking publicly about these issues. In today’s environment, the loyalty of Chinese Australians will be quesBoned no maEer what our achievements or records.’ And in a final, telling observaBon, she says, ‘The hearing mirrored what the Chinese Communist Party does in its numerous poliBcal campaigns, including, most famously, the Cultural RevoluBon.’ Is this really the Australian way in 2020? robert@robertmacklin.com

Robert Macklin was born in Queensland and educated at University of Queensland and the Australian Na!onal University. He has worked as a journalist at the COURIER-MAIL, THE AGE and THE BULLETIN, and was associate editor of the CANBERRA TIMES un!l 2003. Robert is the author of 29 books, including DARK PARADISE, HAMILTON HUME and four works focusing on the SAS and Australia's Special Forces: SAS SNIPER, REDBACK ONE, SAS INSIDER and WARRIOR ELITE. He lives in Canberra and Tuross Head.

beagle weekly : Vol 178 October 23rd 2020

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