ATC is seeking immediate comment from the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Julie Bishop MP, after a series of bizarre criticisms over the Government’s handling of Australia-China relations.

Read ATC’s letter to the Shadow Foreign Minister

Michael Danby MP, Chair of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, has also voiced strong concern over Ms. Bishop’s recent statements:

“The ATC makes an unanswerable case against Julie Bishop. Unless she deals with the inherent contradictions of Liberal policy she should be dismissed. There are no fake emails here, only the authentic modern face of the Liberal party - opportunistic, cruel and devoid of principle,” Michael Danby MP.

On 19 August, Ms. Bishop attacked the Prime Minister for publicly raising Australians’ concerns over the situation in Tibet during his visit to Beijing last year. Her predecessor, Andrew Robb, unequivocally supported Mr. Rudd’s actions at the time.

Ms. Bishop also labelled the granting of a visa to Uighur Leader Rebiya Kadeer “a mistake”. She later retreated from this position.

“These statements indicate either a shift in the Liberal Party’s stance on human rights in China or more probably that the Shadow Minister has temporarily abandoned party principles to score political points over the opposition,” said Simon Bradshaw, Campaign Coordinator at the Australia Tibet Council.

“Given the severity of the current situation in Tibet and many parts of China, ATC is deeply disappointed to see the opposition exploiting present challenges in the Australia-China relationship for domestic political gain.”