Scott Morrison calls deputy Labor leader Richard Marles a ‘Manchurian candidate’ after Beijing trip

Scott Morrison has branded Labor deputy leader Richard Marles a ‘Manchurian candidate’ after he called for closer defence ties with China on a trip to Beijing.

The Prime Minister launched the extraordinary attack – which Labor rejected as ‘desperate’ – as part of his escalating and controversial bid to portray the Opposition as weak on national security ahead of the May election.

A Manchurian candidate is a politician being used as a puppet by an enemy power. The phrase comes from the 1959 book The Manchurian Candidate. 

During his visit as shadow defence minister in September 2019, Mr Marles gave a speech at the Beijing Foreign Studies University where he said Australia must ‘respect China’.

‘Our starting point has to be that we respect China and deeply value our relationship with China. We must seek to build it,’ he said.

‘And not just in economic terms, but also through exploring political co-operation and even defense co-operation.

‘To define China as an enemy is a profound mistake. To talk of a new Cold War is silly and ignorant.’

On defence co-operation, Mr Marles was referring to the annual bilateral adventure training exercise PANDAROO which saw Australian troops travel to China just a month before his visit.

The exercise was set up by the Coalition government in 2015. 

Earlier this week the Government unearthed the speech which Mr Marles never uploaded to his website.

Mr Morrison brought it up in Question Time on Wednesday where he quoted the speech and added: ‘He said that as a shadow defence (minister). So I tell you where I do agree, Mr Speaker… They’ve got another Manchurian candidate.’ 

Amid furious shouting from Labor members, Mr Morrison was forced to withdraw the remark because it is considered unparliamentary. 

Mr Marles earlier hit back at the Government’s attempts to portray Labor as weak on China, insisting there is no policy difference between the Coalition and Labor on national security. 

‘This is a pathetic attempt to distract from its own failures. And it’s an attempt which has been called out by defence experts today, which is very much not in Australia’s national interest,’ Mr Marles said.

Amid furious shouting from Labor members, Mr Morrison was forced to withdraw the remark because it is considered unparliamentary

‘The Prime Minister is clearly trying to create a political issue in the context of the upcoming election around national security which I think shows a level of desperation in terms of trying to find an issue for the election.’

Labor believes the Government’s attacks undermine Australia’s national security by falsely suggesting to allies that Labor would follow a different policy if elected to Government.  

Earlier on Wednesday a senior DFAT official said China is trying to exploit divisions in other countries to pursue its own interests.

Department deputy secretary Justin Hayhurst made claim in a senate estimates hearing on Wednesday.

When asked if China is seeking to sow division, he replied: ‘It’s fair to say the Chinese system seeks to exploit social and other divisions in countries to pursue its interests. That’s very apparent.’ 

‘Clearly, at a time of strategic and security challenges, having the right systems and high levels of social cohesions, these things better equip countries to handle disruption challenges, security threats and risks.’