Opposition Leader Admits Liberal Party Failed Chinese-Australian Community, Launches Listening Tour
Defense analyst warns move could embolden Putin as peace talks stall
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley acknowledged Monday that the Liberal Party "didn't get it right" in its approach to Chinese-Australian voters during the last federal election, announcing a national listening tour to rebuild fractured relationships with the community.
Speaking from Epping in Sydney following a roundtable discussion with Chinese-Australian leaders, Ley admitted her party failed in both tone and messaging when addressing the diaspora community that has contributed to Australia for more than 200 years.
"We didn't get it right. We didn't get the tone right. We didn't always get the messaging right and I want to freely acknowledge that," Ley told reporters. "We've turned the page. I'm a new leader with a different tone, different priorities and a different team."
The admission represents a significant shift for the Liberal Party, which has struggled to connect with multicultural communities since losing government. Ley's comments come as she attempts to rebuild the opposition's standing ahead of the next federal election.
During Monday's discussion, Ley emphasized the contributions of Chinese-Australians across multiple sectors, from science and medicine to local government and aged care. The history of Chinese-Australian involvement dates to the 1850s gold rush era, she noted.
"Chinese Australians have given so much over those years. They have stood out in the fields of science, in medicine, in innovation, but also in the caring communities," Ley said.
The opposition leader described Monday's session as "a very frank discussion" that highlighted bread-and-butter concerns shared by all Australian families, including mortgage stress, small business challenges, and childcare costs.
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"What we heard today was that the concerns of average Australians are, of course, the concerns of Chinese Australians too. Worrying about the future of their family, worrying about paying the mortgage, worrying about how hard it is in their small business," Ley said.
Ley announced plans to extend the listening tour to Queensland and other states, acknowledging that Chinese-Australians hold diverse views across different regions and backgrounds.
"As we sat at the table today, we all acknowledge that Chinese Australians are not one homogenous group with the same views. They have different views," she said. "We'll hear a range of different opinions, different ideas, and different suggestions, and they will form part of our policy offering going forward."
The Liberal Party's relationship with Chinese-Australian voters deteriorated during the previous government's tenure, with critics arguing the party's national security rhetoric and foreign interference messaging alienated community members. Ley's predecessor as opposition leader faced particular criticism for comments linking Chinese-Australians to espionage concerns.
Ley refused to detail specific discussions from Monday's private meeting but confirmed she addressed past missteps directly with community leaders.
"I freely admitted that we did not get it right, that our tone wasn't right and the messaging wasn't right and that we needed to change course, course correct for the future," she said. "I think that message was well received, but I also know that the Chinese Australian community expects ongoing dialogue from this point forward."
The opposition leader emphasized her commitment to protecting multicultural communities from racism and hate, revealing that examples of discrimination discussed during the meeting left her "very angry and very distressed."
"That protection from hate for our migrant communities should always be front and centre," Ley said.
Ley announced she would visit East Melbourne Synagogue Tuesday with Victorian colleagues Julie Bishop and Lisa Smith to meet with Jewish community leaders following what she described as "awful, hideous events over the weekend." The reference appears related to recent antisemitic incidents that have prompted calls for stronger hate crime legislation.
Asked about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's upcoming diplomatic visit to China, Ley expressed cautious support for the relationship while emphasizing mutual respect.
"I wish the Prime Minister well in his upcoming trip to China, and we want the relationship with China to be built on mutual respect," she said. "With respect to artificial intelligence and new free trade agreements, we have to proceed with caution, understanding the implications that always come with issues that concern our national interest."
Ley also used Monday's appearance to offer bipartisan cooperation on childcare reforms, writing to Albanese about collaborating on legislation when Parliament resumes July 22.
"I don't want Australians to consider for one moment that everybody in the Parliament today and in the Senate is ready to put the politics aside, to put the cut and thrust aside and to work constructively and collaboratively," she said.
Drawing on her personal experience as a mother and grandmother who used childcare services, Ley described recent sector problems as "above politics" and requiring immediate action to restore parental confidence.
"All across Australia, parents are very, very distressed about this, as they should be. I am. I was a mum with children in childcare. I'm a grandmother with grandchildren in childcare," she said.
The listening tour represents Ley's broader strategy to reposition the Liberal Party as more inclusive and responsive to multicultural communities ahead of the next election. Political analysts suggest rebuilding trust with Chinese-Australian voters could prove crucial in several marginal seats across Sydney and Melbourne.
Ley's acknowledgment of past failures marks a departure from her party's previous defensive stance on multicultural outreach. The opposition leader insisted her approach would prioritize listening over lecturing as she works to repair damaged relationships.
"What I committed to from day one was to listen very carefully. I will not be in lecturing mode. I will be in listening mode. That's really important," she said.
The Chinese-Australian community represents one of Australia's largest and most politically engaged diaspora groups, with significant populations concentrated in key electoral battlegrounds. Ley's success in rebuilding these relationships could influence the Liberal Party's electoral prospects in seats where multicultural voters hold decisive influence.
Community leaders who attended Monday's discussion have not yet commented publicly on Ley's overtures, though the opposition leader suggested her message was "well received" and that participants focused on future engagement rather than past grievances.
Ley concluded her remarks by emphasizing that policy development would emerge from genuine consultation rather than predetermined positions, signaling a more collaborative approach to multicultural policy formation.
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