Tiananmen memories no barrier for WA Premier

The Age

Tuesday June 2, 2009

MICHELLE GRATTAN with AAP

MEMORIES of Tiananmen Square should not influence thinking about Chinalco getting a bigger slice of Rio Tinto, says West Australian Premier Colin Barnett.Mr Barnett warned that making that link could damage relations with China.An advertisement sponsored by businessman Ian Melrose invokes the violence of 20 years ago this week to argue against the bid, on which the Treasurer will announce a decision within a fortnight.Mr Barnett said China was trying to put behind it the "tragic event" of 1989, which had been a low point in modern China's history."It's trying to move forward as a modern economy and clearly the economic phenomenon of this century," he said."To try to tie links between the violation of rights of students and a proposal for Rio Tinto to join a partnership with Chinalco is just drawing a bow that doesn't exist." This would not do the relationship between the countries any good.The WA and federal Liberals are at odds. Mr Barnett says the bid should be approved, but federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull is on record opposing it in its present form.Mr Barnett said the deal was a business arrangement and "solely one of Foreign Investment Review Board approval". -- MICHELLE GRATTAN with AAP

© 2009 The Age

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