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With most polls showing Scott Morrison's conservative coalition
headed for a loss in the May 21 election, it has sought to
highlight its national security credentials, such as a tough
approach to China.
"We are very aware of the influence the Chinese government seeks
to have in this country," Morrison told reporters in Tasmania.
"There is form on foreign interference in Australia."
He was replying to a query about evidence for a radio statement
by Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews that the timing of
China's revelation of its recent Solomons deal was a form of
foreign interference in Australia's election.
China has said the pact was not targeted at any third party and
urged Australia to "respect the sovereign and independent
choices made by China and the Solomons".
News of the security pact with the Pacific nation sparked
concerns at the prospect of a Chinese military presence less
than 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Australian shores, casting the
national security efforts of Morrison's coalition in poor light.
After Australia's opposition Labor party this week called the
deal a national security failure by Canberra, Morrison's
government has toughened its remarks.
He cited a ban on foreign political donations and a register of
foreign representatives, saying, "Any suggestion that the
Chinese government doesn't seek to interfere in Australia, well,
we didn't put that legislation in for no reason."
In the Solomon Islands a day earlier, Prime Minister Manasseh
Sogavare told parliament the country would not participate in
any militarisation in the Pacific, and had signed the China deal
as a security pact with Australia was inadequate.
(Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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