Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Labors China critics are an insult to Gough Whitlam

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Mr Keating, along with other Labor stalwarts such as Bob Carr, has been critical of the Albanese governments increasingly hardline approach towards China, with the former prime minister arguing his views need to be less skewed towards those of the United States.

Gough Whitlam holding talks with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing.

Senator Wong says stabilizing our relationship is in the interests of both Australia and China.

It will take time, because our differences are not trivial.

Our government has our own approach. Our national interests have not changed. The priority of our national security remains paramount.

Senator Wong will also attack the federal opposition as she claims the Albanese government has struck the right balance in dealing with China.

She will attest that the former Morrison government weaponized the China relationship for domestic political purposes and will liken the current opposition to hapless former Liberal leader Billy McMahon, who was critical of Mr Whitlams duchessing of China in 1971 and 1972.

Billy McMahon launched a scathing attack. He mocked it as instant coffee diplomacy, described Gough as a pawn for a communist power, and claimed that at a time when Australian soldiers were still engaged in Vietnam, Gough was becoming a spokesman for those against whom we are fighting, she said.

We ought to reflect on the tone of McMahons attack. I want to focus on the use of the word pawn, and the allegation of treason.

Where have we heard that recently? Who was it who accused our deputy leader (Richard Marles) of being a Manchurian candidate?

This was a reference to the term the Morrison government used against the now-deputy prime minister when he was meeting the Chinese while in opposition.

She will also mention now-opposition leader Peter Dutton accusing Labor of appeasement during the election campaign.

It is a profound statement about Labor through history, that even in opposition – in Whitlams time and more recently – we are the party that has upheld the national interest, she will say.

And even when carrying the responsibility of governing, the Liberals have put party over country.

She will challenge her shadow counterpart Simon Birmingham to explicitly reject the rendering of national unity as a craven political tactic.

And to acknowledge that common purpose would be a powerful national asset.

Senator Birmingham is one of the most decent people in the parliament.

I urge him and Mr Dutton to look to history, which does not favor those who serve their own narrow interests.

McMahon was, of course, left behind by history. Rather quickly, as it happened.

Senator Wongs speech coincides with Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses trip to Asia for three summits over nine days. Mr Albanese, who is currently attending the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Cambodia, hopes to meet Mr Xi at the G20 in Bali, which would be the first such meeting in six years.

As of late Saturday, nothing had been locked in.

If the leaders of our respective countries have a meeting, then that would be positive. There are no preconditions for a meeting. I look forward to having a constructive dialogue if a meeting takes place, he said.

I take it at face value. I think there is a great deal of goodwill here, certainly from Australia.

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