'Something very weird is going on here' in Australia-China relations

Sky News host Paul Murray has hit out at Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan's statement Australia has racked up generations of debt in one year, saying it is that debt "which is keeping people in a job" throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan on Thursday hit back at the government's tit-for-tat with China saying his state "understands trade from other countries better than they do in Melbourne and Sydney".
He continued to state, "the federal government is racking up generations of debt in the course of one year to save businesses and save our economy and we're going to have to pay for that at some time".
Roughly a quarter of WA's economic activity is based on trade with China which bought more than 80 per cent of the state's iron ore exports in 2019.
"That debt is keeping people in a job or doubling the amount of money there is for the dole ... it's about keeping our country alive," Mr Murray said.
Mr Murray said the premier "is dancing to the tune ... of choosing Chinese money over Australian sovereignty and values".
"We have to do business with China ... but China doesn't get to tell Australia how to live or how to be," Mr Murray said.
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