From Peter Hartcher today on ScoMo’s sudden swing behind an ever more radial Israel:
Has Morrison floated these changes to Australian policy because they were recommended to the government through its policy-making channels? No. They were not proposed or recommended by any part of the Australian policy-making system. Nor would they be.
Why not?…they are the policies of a foreign country that are fundamentally ill-suited for Australia…Australia’s only strategically significant neighbour happens to be Indonesia…The President, known universally by his nickname Jokowi, is a friend of Australia. He has been pressing his government to conclude a free trade agreement with Australia. He proposed that Australia be permitted to join ASEAN…Australia depends on Indonesia for vital cooperation on counter-terrorism.
But for his own political survival Jokowi will now need to distance himself from Australia so long as Australia has a prime minister wrapped ostentatiously in the Israeli flag.
Quite right.
The three most powerful sovereign lobbies in Canberra are the US, Israel and China, probably in that order, especially as the last gets pushed back. Any PM of substance knows when not to listen to them.
Thankfully we will not have to put up with this dill for long.
