Labor MPs told to ‘stay quiet about China’ and not ‘cause a fuss’
almost 4 years in heraldsun
EXCLUSIVE: Sky News host Sharri Markson says there is a growing concern within the federal Labor caucus that “their free speech is being curtailed” by Anthony Albanese and his leadership team over members’ ability to publicly criticise China.
Ms Markson has revealed on Sky News, only a day after the federal government withdrew funding for a think tank called ‘China Matters’, the Labor leadership team invited its director, Allan Gyngell, to speak to Shadow Cabinet.
The Sky News host said during the meeting of Shadow Cabinet, Mr Gyngell “criticised MPs who have been vocal about China”.
Mr Gygnell also reportedly claimed MPs who have been openly critical of China “were causing unnecessary provocation to a complex relationship already in trouble”.
“Federal Labor MPs are now concerned their free speech is being curtailed by Anthony Albanese and his leadership team,” Ms Markson said.
“They claim they were urged not to sign an international letter condemning China for its national security laws to effectively annex Hong Kong.
“Labor MPs say they have been told it is better to stay quiet about China rather than cause a fuss.
It is believed the meeting was organized by Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong who “strongly rejected” the premise that any Labor MPs were stopped from speaking out against China, according to Ms Markson.
Image: News Corp Australia
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