Federal Opposition Defends Political Attack Ads Called ‘Racist’ By Treasurer

Liberal MP Gladys Liu in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Nov. 25, 2019. Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

The federal opposition of Australia is standing by a political attack ad targeting centre-right Coalition MP Gladys Liu amid campaigning for the marginal electorate of Chisholm in Melbourne.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg have criticised the campaign claiming it is “racist”—it comes as Australia-China relations and defence continue to feature heavily in the country’s political discourse in the lead-up to the election.