PM riles China more than Clive: McGowan
WA Opposition Leader Mark McGowan believes that Clive Palmer's comments about "Chinese mongrels" had less of an impact in that country's corridors of power than Tony Abbott's praise of Japanese submariners' "skill and honour" during World War II.
Mr McGowan returned from a week-long trip to China yesterday saying Mr Palmer's comments were raised with him in only one meeting.
But the Prime Minister's comments, made in a parliamentary speech in July attended by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, were raised on several occasions.
"It would be fair to say they were unhappy with those," Mr McGowan said. "I think they have an understanding that Mr Palmer is down the pecking order and that his commentary does not reflect the broader view of the Australian public."
Mr McGowan warned WA agricultural products needed to be at the centre of continuing free trade negotiations or WA farmers risked missing out.
He believed there were opportunities for WA small and medium enterprises which specialised in environmental management, alternative energy and occupational health and safety.
