Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
TRANSCRIPT
Sky News with Danica De Giorgio
TOPICS: Albanese China visit, record immigration in May
16 July 2025
E&OE
Danica De Giorgio
I’m joined by Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Michaelia Cash. Senator, it’s great to see you. Thank you so much for joining me. I asked earlier what has actually changed in our relationship with China during Anthony Albanese trip, because it seems that this is the same old China making the rules, and the Prime Minister bends over backwards to appease. China’s Premier Li has urged the PM to ensure Chinese companies are treated in a fair, open and non-discriminatory way, while China’s state media says the Port of Darwin is still an issue that needs to be discussed. Senator the PM didn’t raise Darwin during his meetings, but if China has already handed us this list of demands, well what happens if we don’t comply? Is it deja vu, deep freeze, all over again?
Senator Cash
Well, let’s be clear, Danica, that the Coalition wants Australia and China to have a good relationship. They are an important trading partner. The relationship needs to be a respectful one, and that respect needs to go both ways. Mr. Albanese needs to be very clear, a decision has been made to return the Port of Darwin to Australian control. Mr. Albanese, needs to be clear in relation to the decision and in a respectful relationship, that decision needs to be respected. I mean the Australian Government, like any government, makes decisions in relation to foreign investment on a risk based, case by case basis, to ensure that the investment is not contrary to our national interest. I mean, the Coalition has been very clear – the return of the Port of Darwin to Australian control is in Australia’s best interest. Now, Mr. Albanese says his government is committed to the return, but the issue has arisen. Mr. Albanese has not taken any action Danica to facilitate the return, and his inaction is now creating instability. So Mr. Albanese needs to reaffirm the decision in relation to the Port of Darwin returning to Australian control. But he also needs to be very, very clear. What actions is his government taking to facilitate the return? What is the process? What is the framework, what is the timeline, Mr. Albanese has created himself, by his inaction, uncertainty. He needs to rectify, urgently, this situation.
Danica De Giorgio
Oh, look, absolutely. I just think he’s just so petrified of offending right now, the PM has downplayed a report in the China Daily, which claimed he told President Xi he did not want to support Taiwan’s independence. Have a listen to what he said.
Anthony Albanese
You’re trying to quote a Chinese readout that I haven’t seen. What, what we what we do, what we do is continue to support a One China policy. We support the status quo. By definition we don’t support any unilateral action on Taiwan. That’s been our position for a long period of time.
Danica De Giorgio
Senator, I mean, sure, okay, he’s standing by that position. But the issue is, is Anthony Albanese failure to stand up towards China, you know, when it comes to military intimidation, the punitive tariffs, he’s not standing up for our values.
Senator Cash
Well, I think it is very concerning Danica, that Mr. Albanese, he did have a meeting, a face to face, meeting with President Xi Jinping, and got no assurances in relation to concerns he raised on regional strategic issues. I think what is even worse, though, is that Mr. Albanese says he raised these issues, but from all the reporting, Mr. Albanese concerns have been dismissed. Mr. Albanese needs to ensure that in a respectful relationship, because, as I said, the Coalition wants a relationship with China. They are our largest trading partner. We want the relationship to work. But in a respectful relationship, you listen, and then you provide the assurance. The way in which the circumnavigation occurred of Australia was not conducted in a respectable manner. The Coalition called it out at the time, and we will call it out again. But let us also be very, very clear – Mr. Albanese, when it comes to concerns about stability within the region, should have been clear that Australia supports the United States presence in the Indo Pacific and the stability that the United States brings to the region.
Danica De Giorgio
Absolutely. I mean, it’s also very clear that China is trying to drive a wedge right now between Australia and the United States, at a time where the US is pressuring us to lift our defence spending, to get us to give a position on Taiwan, it’s very clear what China is doing. Senator I want to ask you on another matter, big Australia keeps getting bigger. A record 33,000 net, permanent and long term arrivals came into the country in May. Senator, Labor keeps breaking records time and time again when it comes to migration. At the same time, we saw that leaked Treasury advice the other day saying that Labor won’t meet its housing targets. Where are we going to put all these people? We can’t even get Aussies into houses?
Senator Cash
Well, Danica that’s now the obvious question. And the problem is this, there is no answer to that question. The government doesn’t have a clue when it comes to housing for Australians, or, more generally, housing for people who come here. But what’s worse now, Danica is based on the figures that we have just seen, I don’t think the government actually cares. I mean Danica you and I understand why people want to come to Australia. It is a great country, however, governments need to ensure that migration is managed sustainably. In other words, if you’re bringing people into the country, you need to ensure that there is the appropriate infrastructure, and you need to ensure that not only are there houses for Australians, there are houses for the people you are bringing in. Labor is a failure when it comes to the management of Australia’s migration program, but more than that, in failing to ensure the necessary infrastructure and the necessary housing infrastructure, Labor are failing Australians. So I’m sorry there is no answer to your question, because I don’t think Labor actually care, and that’s reflected in the latest numbers.
Danica De Giorgio
Yeah, completely agree, and big Australia just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Senator Michaelia Cash, good to see you. Thank you very much for joining. me on the show, this evening, appreciate it.
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