Neil Mitchell’s thoughts on Scott Morrison’s ‘sudden’ China about-face

Neil Mitchell has accused the Prime Minister of “dog whistling” and says his about-face on China is electioneering.

ASIO last week revealed it had foiled a foreign interference plot in the lead up to the Australian election.

Speaking to 2GB’s Ben Fordham yesterday, Scott Morrison said “the countries that are coercing us, I know they don’t want to see the Liberal-National government re-elected”.

Neil Mitchell says that’s “a bit of a dog whistle”.

The 3AW Mornings host says the tone of Mr Morrison’s comments on China has changed significantly.

“The past three years, many times, I have attempted to get the Prime Minister to discuss China in critical terms and he won’t,” he said.

“Remember when they said we could be a nuclear target? He said ‘Oh that’s not helpful’.

“This is a country that have set up what amounts to concentration camps for Uighurs, locked Australians up without trials, hacked into our systems and institutions!

“The Prime Minister has tiptoed around it and suddenly he’s got the hobnail boots on — after years of dodging it he’s going after them.

“It’s electioneering.

“He knows the Australian public is nervous about China, he’s exploiting that, he’s chasing votes, he’s wedging the Labor Party and Anthony Albanese has effectively now got a recommendation from China that he’s a better prime minister, which is a bit like the kiss of death.”

Press PLAY below to hear Neil’s thoughts on the PM’s about-face in full

Image (Morrison): Don Arnold/Getty Images