Sheffield, the leader of the Labour Party. (photo by Australian Financial Review)
Federal Labor Party leader Sheldon (Bill Shorten) said the Federal Labour Party would be less hostile to China if it came to power, saying exchanges with China could not be entirely based on fear. He also suggested that Australia should become more self-reliant as it continues to maintain close ties with the United States if it wins.
According to the Australian Financial Review, in an interview with the newspaper, Sheldon also said that if elected, he is likely to return to the practice of Whitlam`s (Gough Whitlam) era. Include Indonesia as one of its first overseas destinations as prime minister.
He said: "We must choose first. As a friendly neighbor, I hope that the countries first visited will be Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Indonesia and Timor-Leste."
If Scherton becomes Australia`s prime minister, he will also attend the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in June. But at a time when the campaign was fierce, he did not take victory for granted.
Strengthening Australia-China Relations on the premise of not harming Safety
Sheldon has also stepped up criticism of Unionparty government`s China policy, pointing out that Unionparty is often inconsistent and sometimes inflammatory in its handling of Australia-China relations.
Sheldon believes that strengthening Australia-China ties without undermining Australia`s national security will help improve relations between the two countries.
He said: "We (the Labour Party) will not only look at China from the worst strategic point of view." "We must not only regard China as a threat. This does not mean that we will not listen to the recommendations of the national security department, but also understand us. As a commitment to the `five-eye country` (a security alliance formed by Australia and the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand), we can`t just deal with other countries based on fear."
"I just want to deepen my ties. So if I disagree with other countries, they`d better hear my opinion first, not through the media or the microphone."
Changing perceptions of Trump Australia should become more self-reliant
On the other hand, while Sheldon used to describe U.S. President Donald Trump as a "barking lunatic," he now wants to envisage a civilized and professional relationship with the other side.
However, Xue Dun also pointed out that the rise of Trump has changed the nature of Australia-US relations.
He said: "the United States is Australia`s fundamental relationship, is part of our national security structure, we have common values."
"Trump`s lesson is that the world will not return to what it was even if someone else came back to the White House."
"We won`t go back to 1945. Australia must be more self-reliant. It`s a good thing."
"Let`s see if we can win the election first."
Schotton said the United States has borne a lot of burdens for Australia for decades, but now Australia needs to stand up. "We should be experts on topics in the Pacific and Indian Ocean as well as near the north, so I think people have expectations for us to stand up and do well."
The current ambassador to the United States, Hawky (Joe Hockey), a former Unionparty government Treasury secretary, has a close personal relationship with Trump. Scherton did not give a clear answer to the question of whether or not he would remain in office if the Labour Party wins.
