Details of Parliamentary e-Petition EN2732: Travel bubble for Chinese scholars and researchers

• Reason: The Morrison government has all but destroyed an entire lucrative tertiary education industry by dismally mismanaging ties with China based on completely irrational ideological, and fundamentalist megacult motives. COVID-19 does not bear responsibility for this outcome, as the mismanagement of diplomatic and trade relations by Australian parliamentarians was occurring prior to the pandemic.

Chinese scholars and researchers from zero-transmission regions of China could have been included in a travel bubble some time ago. Given that Australian domestic transmission rates are currently safe, demand by Chinese scholars would be would be high had the Morrison government not damaged Sino-Australian relations and trade and foreign relations with wanton, unfounded, alarmist warmongering.

That same tertiary education export market is being re-acquired and re-engaged by the very nation(s) whom Australian politicians have unwisely volunteered our nation and its defence forces to assist in irresponsible militarism in the South China Sea. That militarism clearly only benefits the military industrial complex of Quad ‘partner’ nations like the United States of America, and our current Crown-Commonwealth masters – The United Kingdom.

This is being done unilaterally based on the misguided political imperatives, and corresponding fundamentalist religious and cultural ideologies, of a few. Chinese researchers and scholars can, and should, be restricted to those who are both vaccinated, and not infectious.

• Request: We therefore ask the House to a establish a travel bubble with China for researchers and university scholars (including the Chinese province of Taiwan, if safe) only (at this time).

- Dr Bruce Long

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