'Standing up for our values': Peter Dutton says Australia WON'T stop pushing for an inquiry into coronavirus as China threatens $135billion trade war
- Australia's demands for an inquiry into coronavirus has infuriated Beijing
- China has suspended beef imports from four abattoirs and is targeting barley
- Peter Dutton said the federal government will continue to demand inquiry
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Peter Dutton has declared Australia will continue pushing for an independent inquiry into the origins of coronavirus despite straining relations with China.
Beijing has suspended beef imports from four abattoirs and plans to slap huge tariffs on Australian barley after warning an inquiry could destroy two-way trade ties.
The home affairs minister said the Australian government will not back down in demanding an investigation into how the virus started.
Peter Dutton has declared Australia will continue pushing for an independent inquiry into the origins of coronavirus despite straining relations with China
'Australia's done nothing more than stand up for our values and we will consistently do that,' Mr Dutton told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
'The Prime Minister, I think, has been resolute in standing up for Australians in relation to this matter. And that won't change.'
Labor supports the government's calls for a coronavirus inquiry but has criticised its messaging on China relations.
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong says the prime minister should lead the debate and be more clear and consistent.
'I think it is regrettable that much of this debate is being framed and led by conservative backbenchers, trying to outdo each other as to who can be more strident on China,' she told ABC radio.
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'I don't think that serves the national interest.'
Senator Wong believes the inflammatory comments have been squarely aimed at a domestic audience.
'We need to think less about domestic political interest from the prime minister down. We need to be focusing on the national interest.'
One third of Australia's exports - including iron ore, gas, coal and food - go to China, bringing in around $135billion per year.
But Chinese state media has threatened to cut back on importing Australian products in revenge for the push for an inquiry which it deems 'unfriendly'.
Mr Dutton also slammed the Queensland government after it announced intentions to bail out Virgin Australia.
He said the idea is either a political stunt or a very risky move that puts millions of taxpayer dollars at risk.
'Annastacia Palaszczuk as the Queensland Premier is maxed out,' he said.
Federal government Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton (left) has labelled Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's (right) plan to buy Virgin airline 'corrupt' and 'chaotic'
'She doesn't have a dollar left. Yet, she's talking about going spending billions of dollars she doesn't have on an airline that had no money coming in and it has billions of dollars worth of debt.
'I think it is a political stunt. I don't think they can seriously believe that they are a genuine bidder.'
Virgin has debts of almost $7billion and is paralysed by the coronavirus crisis.
'Every credit card she has is already maxed out,' Mr Dutton told 2GB on Thursday.
'If the Queensland government bought this airline the thing would be back on the market in six months.
'They can't run a train system. It's just fanciful and I think it's dangerous.'
Last night Mr Dutton blasted the Queensland leader in an extraordinary attack on Twitter.
Passengers check-in at the Virgin Australia counter at Brisbane domestic airport on April 21
'Premier Palaszczuk has almost bankrupted Queensland, and now in the middle of a crisis they want to buy an airline,' he wrote.
'It is laughable. She ''leads'' a government which is corrupt and chaotic.'
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick was quick to hit back, throwing the Ruby Princess debacle in his face.
'Look mate, just stick to cruise ships,' he wrote.
Mr Dutton's Border Force agency has been heavily criticised for allowing the ship to dock in Sydney on March 19.
The vessel has been linked to 22 deaths and over 700 coronavirus infections across Australia, about 10 percent of the country's total cases.
Virgin Australia went into voluntary administration in April as coronavirus grounded flights across Australia and left Virgin struggling under $5 billion of debt.
Border closures and travel bans in Australian and across the world have left the carrier financially crippled and put the airline's 16,000 employees at risk of losing their jobs.
Peter Dutton fired an extraordinary shot at Premier Palaszczuk and the Queensland government, but Treasurer Dick was quick to hit back
The Queensland Investment Corporation will advise the government on its bid, which could take the form of a direct equity stake, a loan, guarantee or another financial tool.
State Treasurer Cameron Dick says the state is a serious contender to take over the carrier, but he's hoping to get it on the cheap.
'We need to strike a hard bargain. I want those foreign banks and those foreign bond holders to take a hair cut,' he told ABC radio.
'They've got to take a bath if we're going to go forward on this.'
The federal government has refused to bail out Virgin Australia, and Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Michael McCormack said the solution must be market, not government, led.
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