'Not happy': Anger after billionaire invites China to 'ambush' press conference
Billionaire Twiggy Forrest is facing criticism for inviting the Chinese consul general to a press conference with Greg Hunt without the health minister's knowledge.
The relationship between the two countries is strained, with China openly criticising Australia for calling for an international inquiry into the origins of coronavirus.
Mr Hunt and Mr Forrest held a joint press conference on Wednesday to announce the mining magnate's foundation had sourced 10 million COVID-19 testing kits.
But Mr Forrest also invited Victoria Consul General Long Zhou to address the media.
He said the diplomat's attendance was "a gesture of appreciation and friendship between our two great countries".
Mr Long took the opportunity to talk up China's response to the pandemic.
"The virus has, knows no ideology, border or race and in face of the epidemic the testings of all countries are closely interlinked – we're all in this together," Mr Long said.
Several conservative government backbenchers, including Matt Canavan and Andrew Hastie, have criticised Mr Forrest's action.
"This guy drops out of the sky in his private jet and enables the Chinese Communist Party to ambush a Commonwealth press conference. Yeah, we're not happy," Mr Hastie told The Australian.
‘I put Australia first’
Mr Forrest told Nine’s The Today Show on Thursday he was acting in the interest of the nation and people criticising him “need to take a chill pill”.
“I run the oranges out to the game for Australia, not China or America,” Mr Forrest told the program.
He added Australians “can put food on the table” due to their trading relationship with China.
“We should be everybody's best friends,” he said.
“These fruit cakes running around saying - you know, war mongering, we are doing the wrong thing. Be happy that you are eating this evening, mate.”
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison refused to back down on his push for a global coronavirus inquiry.
Mr Hunt knew about Mr Zhou’s appearance about five minutes before he started speaking but Mr Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne had no knowledge of it, according to The Today Show.
Ambassador Cheng Jingye has floated a Chinese consumer boycott of Australian products, including agriculture, education and tourism, in response to the probe.
The Chinese embassy also controversially released details of a private conversation with Australia's top diplomat.
Chinese state media have launched a series of scathing attacks, with one likening Australia to gum stuck to the bottom of China's shoe.
with AAP
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