Fitzgibbon unapologetic over China comments

Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has defended accusing the government of “demonising China” amid calls for him to be sacked from the Labor frontbench. The government had called on Anthony Albanese to sack the Labor frontbencher for his critical commentary and accusing Mr Fitzgibbon of undermining Australia’s sovereignty. But speaking to Sky News, Mr Fitzgibbon did not shy away from repeating the rhetoric, saying Scott Morrison unnecessarily damaged Australia’s relationship with China by pursuing the COVID-19 inquiry unilaterally. “It was just unnecessary for our Prime Minister to run out ahead of everyone else and use such intemperate language,” he said. “If you’re going to have an inquiry anyway, and we were always going to do just that, why use such intemperate language against your largest trading partner? “You know why he did that … because he was chasing domestic votes.” Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au