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Turnbull visits Shire forum for self funded retirees

Tuesday 14th July 2009

 

See link to on-line report in The Leader here

TRANSCRIPT OF MEDIA CONFERENCE

Subjects: Self-Funded Retirees Forum in Cook; Mr Stern Hu; federal politics.

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Well, it’s been great to be here, as you’ve seen, with Scott, the local Member and Shadow Housing Minister, talking to the residents here, hearing their views about the economy and issues directly relating to senior Australians. We have a very keen focus on ensuring that the interests of senior Australians are protected and advanced, particularly during these challenging economic conditions. Scott’s been doing a great job in that regard and particularly of course in this local community of Cook, in his constituency.

I do want to make another comment on another issue and that is the continued detention of our fellow Australian, Mr Stern Hu, in China. Now Mr Hu is an Australian citizen. He has been held without access to family, to his employer, to lawyers for nine days now. The Prime Minister has chosen not to make any direct contact with the Chinese Government about this. He should do that, he should do that. There is clearly a lot of politics in this arrest and detention of Mr Hu. I don’t want to speculate on the motives behind it or speculate on the commentary on those motives but the Chinese Government would respect us if our Prime Minister were to call and say he is concerned about Mr Hu’s detention, he wants Mr Hu to have the ability to deal with his, speak to his family, his employers, to legal advice and if there are charges to be made, then those charges should be laid openly and officially. What we’re, apparently, according to our Foreign Minister, Mr Smith, the only thing we have learned about any possible allegations or charges against Mr Hu have been through the Chinese media and that is not acceptable. So what we need is for the Prime Minister to stand up.

Now, I just remind everybody of one important element in Chinese history. When Chairman Mao led his People’s Liberation Army to victory in 1949, he got to the top of Tiananmen, right in the centre of Beijing, and he said the Chinese people have stood up. Those were his opening words. And China understands that national leaders have to stand up for their nation and stand up for their citizens. So this idea that Mr Rudd would cause offence by contacting his counterpart in China is ridiculous. The Chinese people know that their leaders have to stand up for them - that’s what they said - and it’s time the Australian people are seen to stand up, in the person of their Prime Minister contacting the Chinese President directly.

QUESTION: The West Australian Premier is heading across to China. He has been briefed by Mr Smith. Should you have also been briefed by Stephen Smith before making such comments?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Well it’s up to Mr Smith but Mr Smith doesn’t seem to know very much about the situation. We have had some briefings from the company, from Rio, and I think we are as informed as anybody else is about the situation. I mean Mr Smith really has been despairing about his inability to get official information or official access. He said the other day that all he knew was what he was reading on Chinese media and websites.

QUESTION: Mr Smith said this morning that he has had the Acting Ambassador to China in three times but they’re no closer to getting to the bottom of the situation. Mr Rudd said he wants to follow other diplomatic routes but do you think three times with the Acting Ambassador and no closer to the truth is time that another course of action was taken?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Well that’s right. You see, Mr Rudd should pick up the phone. He has made a great deal of his experience in China, his ability to speak Chinese and that’s fair enough. He’s entitled to be proud of those achievements, his Chinese language skills, which are very good. Now he can take advantage of that and of the special connection he claims to have with China and its Government. He should take advantage of that now; put that to work in aid of an Australian citizen who, as I said, has been detained now – without access to family, employer, lawyers – for nine days. No charge has been laid against him as far as we’re aware. We read all this stuff in the press. Mr Swan…Mr Smith, I should say, is essentially despairing of his ability to find out, to get to the bottom of it. It’s just not acceptable. Now the Australian Prime Minister should pick up the phone. He should stand up for Australia and for an Australian citizen in distress.

QUESTION: The Treasurer says he won’t give in to calls for megaphone diplomacy. Is that what you’re asking?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: We’re talking about a telephone not a megaphone.

QUESTION: Colin Barnett also says there should be a bipartisan because the issue is such a big deal. You obviously don’t have that bipartisan approach at this stage. What’s your response to that?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Well, Mr Rudd’s approach seems to be to do nothing. That is not our approach. I promise you, if I was Prime Minister I would pick up the phone and I would talk to the President of China and let him know directly the very grave concerns that all Australians have about the detention of Mr Hu and seek to get some answers. And I think Mr Rudd would get some answers if he picked up the phone. There is clearly a lot of politics in all of this – that’s plain from reading the Chinese media – so it’s important that the leader of Australia, our leader, talk to their leader.

QUESTION: The latest opinion polls show you’ve gone up somewhat in popularity but you’re still number three in popularity for the Opposition leadership. What’s your response to that?

MALCOLM TURNBULL:  My response is to focus on holding this Government to account for their economic mismanagement, talking about the issues that are of real concern to Australians, the enormous debt and deficit the Rudd Government is running up and proposing alternatives, constructive alternatives that will take Australia to a better managed economy where more Australians have the ability to realise their dreams.

QUESTION: Doesn’t it worry you that somebody who is retiring from politics is still preferred over you by the people of Australia as the leader?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Look, I’m focused on the real issues, just like the people in there are focused on the real issues.

QUESTION: Do you think Joe Hockey would make a good leader?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Again, I’m delighted that you are so interested in these issues but it’s interesting that what we were talking about in there with the residents of this village are real issues – economic issues, issues relating to government, tax, superannuation – they’re the issues that Australians are focused on and they’re the issues I’m focused on.

QUESTION:  One of them expressed concern that she’s not going to live long enough until the Liberal gets into power, so obviously it is something that they’re aware of.

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Look, as I said, we’ll be back in power at the next election with their support and I wish everybody in that room a long and healthy life, as I do to everybody of course, to all Australians.

QUESTION: What is your response to reports in The Australian today saying that some Liberals are saying the next election just isn’t winnable?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Look, the only thing that we know about every election is that it’s winnable. And it is our obligation to take our case, our duty even, our privilege, to take our case as the alternative government to the people at the next election and persuade them that we can do a better job managing this country and managing our economy than Mr Rudd has done. That’s the challenge that awaits every opposition. And you see there are differences between us. Right now, if I was Prime Minister I would have rung the President of China, I would have contacted the Chinese Government at the highest level and I would have demanded answers. Mr Rudd has chosen to do nothing. He has chosen to sit on his hands. He’s taking leave at the moment. Well, everyone’s entitled to a bit of leave but also they’re entitled to have a Prime Minister who will stand up, stand up for Australia and for Australians. Thank you.

[ends]

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