A successful kowtow for wine performed by four federal government ministers will mean little for an innocent industry seriously damaged by China’s punitive actions.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Trade Minister Senator Don Farrell, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Senator Murray Watt, joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a grovelling statement of appreciation for China removing its duties on Australian bottled wine.
No mention of the complete nonsense behind China’s original claim that Australian wine was improperly damaging its local industry.
Just a sense of relief in the quartet’s statement that “the calm and consistent approach taken by the Albanese Labor Government” had succeeded in removing its duties on Australian bottled wine.
Cold comfort in their grovelling words for grape growers and wine makers facing financial ruin because of China’s complete disregard for the rules of the World Trade Organisation.