Despite GM's unhelpful views reciprocity should not be dismissed out of hand. It is after all the basis for trade agreements between friendly nations, and we're in trade talks with China aren't we? For example I'd very much support reciprocity in the free circulation of news, ideas, books, internet etc... I agree however that for property it has little chance of progressing beyond the status quo.
Similarly, dirty money is an area that?s very hard for Australia to make a stand on. What's illegal here is practised there almost as a way of life, even at the highest levels, and only an infinitely small proportion of the corruption involved will ever be prosecuted. We just can't put a blanket on every transaction coming from China.
My wife is ethnic Chinese so there's no reason for me to be negative about the Chinese. My son-in-law comes from mainland China and we love him very much. For years I've tried to dissociate the people from the regime that governs them. Chinese people would make A1 migrants/citizens in any country but their government is a nasty one.
For a lot of them who buy property here however, I can't make that distinction any more considering how their private and public affairs are all mixed together. You'd be astounded by the stories I hear that will never make it to the media.
My wife's health has been deeply affected by how her parents' relatives are treated back in China. Thousands of farmers robbed of their land, two suicides, families dislocated and pushed to the brink. The (presumed) perpetrator of this has a daughter studying in Australia. She spends a lot of time at the casino and each of her bets could have fed a farmer's family for a whole year. He recently came here to visit and bought several properties.
Don't tell me this is a desirable state of affairs. What can we do about it, I don't know. But please don't be the cheer squad every time they celebrate our trade relations. There is a darker side and it can be really dark.
I'm sorry if my posts could be used to promote prejudices. Certain truths need to be told though.
Similarly, dirty money is an area that?s very hard for Australia to make a stand on. What's illegal here is practised there almost as a way of life, even at the highest levels, and only an infinitely small proportion of the corruption involved will ever be prosecuted. We just can't put a blanket on every transaction coming from China.
My wife is ethnic Chinese so there's no reason for me to be negative about the Chinese. My son-in-law comes from mainland China and we love him very much. For years I've tried to dissociate the people from the regime that governs them. Chinese people would make A1 migrants/citizens in any country but their government is a nasty one.
For a lot of them who buy property here however, I can't make that distinction any more considering how their private and public affairs are all mixed together. You'd be astounded by the stories I hear that will never make it to the media.
My wife's health has been deeply affected by how her parents' relatives are treated back in China. Thousands of farmers robbed of their land, two suicides, families dislocated and pushed to the brink. The (presumed) perpetrator of this has a daughter studying in Australia. She spends a lot of time at the casino and each of her bets could have fed a farmer's family for a whole year. He recently came here to visit and bought several properties.
Don't tell me this is a desirable state of affairs. What can we do about it, I don't know. But please don't be the cheer squad every time they celebrate our trade relations. There is a darker side and it can be really dark.
I'm sorry if my posts could be used to promote prejudices. Certain truths need to be told though.