Australian visa row with China to be handled by Rudd

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said while speaking on the controversial granting of the Kadeer visa that it is only the work of Australian immigration to determine who gets a visa and who does not, and no foreign country can decide the same.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said while speaking on the controversial granting of the Kadeer visa that it is only the work of Australian immigration to determine who gets a visa and who does not, and no foreign country can decide the same.

Mr. Rudd said on Friday that the government he leads makes sure that it is solely Australia which decides who gets visa and who does not. He added that the Liberal Party is saying that Australian visa policy should depend on permit slip from some other country.

Christopher Pyne, Liberal frontbencher, said that Australia’s undiplomatic action has worsened the relation of the country with China.

Pyne said that the development is an unwelcome one which flows from this government’s familiarity with China. Pyne also said that it is unfortunate that China thinks that it can have a role in all activities in Australia, be it film festivals, or the decision on who the National Press Club be allowed to speak.

Pyne said that the government has become too familiar with China, who he categorizes as an extremely important partner, but said it is still an authoritarian system. He said that though the country has developed special links with China, these links aren’t benefiting as much as they are harming and also added that the relationship with China hasn’t been handled effectively.

Foreign Minister of Australia, Steven Smith, said that Australian visa was granted to Kadeer only after completing all the required checks and also because Australia believes in freedom of speech.