Bnnelong by-election: Chinese media turned to foreign interference
Growing political tensions between the Australian and Chinese governments have affected by-elections in Sydney`s Bennelong constituency on Saturday.
Many Chinese-language media have turned to support the Liberal Party after Prime Minister Turnbull`s biased remarks against China.
This may affect the results of the Liberal Party`s election in this constituency.
Over the past few days, the coalition has fired enough fire against Labour Senator Sam Dastyari, to capture his association with the Chinese government.
China`s state-run newspapers also seized on this, taking a tough line, issuing comments on Monday, criticising the Turnbull government, denouncing Australia`s debate as racist, and urging the Australian government and the media to abandon their political prejudices and arrogance.
Labour Senator Sam Dastyari in the end, also unable to withstand pressure, forced to resign.
Since then, Australia`s major Chinese-language media have turned away from enthusiastic support for the Liberal Party`s by-election in the district.
The report may be crucial in Saturday`s by-election because the Bennelong constituency has the largest number of Chinese-born voters in Australia.
Hours after People`s Daily`s comments, Sydney`s online Chinese media described the prime minister`s recent comments as being at the forefront of anti-China efforts.
An online poll conducted by Faixfax media on Monday specifically aimed at Chinese voters showed that Chinese voters had turned sharply to no longer support the Liberal Party`s candidate, John Alexander..
Voters say the pro-Labour candidate, Kristina Keneally, has taught the prime minister a lesson.
The online poll of Chinese Americans who support Kristina Keneally has risen to 66%.
A WeChat poll of Sydney`s largest Chinese-language newspaper, Xingdao Daily, for the Bennelong constituency will end on Thursday.
On Tuesday, ACTU also posted an online media ad calling on the government to stop unfair civil English tests.
They also criticized the government`s policy of extending permanent residents` stay in Australia for more than four years before applying for citizenship.
The ad was authorized by ACTU Secretary-General Sally McManus.
He believes that the Liberal Party and the one-country Party are closely related, and their political stance is very similar.
The coalition government, which tightened its citizenship test in English, was unpopular among ethnic groups and failed to pass in the Senate because of opposition from Labour and other parties.
On Monday, Labour Party Kristina Keneally told reporters she spoke to Chinese and Korean voters in the local constituency, who expressed their revulsion at the Liberal Party`s irrational bias.
She said the Liberal Party is now afraid of China and Chinese.
The Liberal Party is intimidating Chinese and thinks that all people from Chinese or Asian backgrounds are suspicious. They don`t like it.
