Ann: Response to Media Reports-CWN.AX, page-64

What is fascinating here is when ADM got declined by the Australian government to buy Graincorp a few years ago the snub when straight to the White House in the US and they expressed their concern and dismay at Australia not being reasonable to their wanting to acquire one of our key food processors and exporters and here we have China now playing hardball with Australia using one of our gambling platforms, not so long ago they also took a swing at us in the dairy space, and yet when it comes to us supporting our offshore operations and aspirations we sit back and take the "free market, free spirit, free willy" approach.

No wonder we are constantly treated with contempt by big internationals and emerging economies looking to expand and then equally dismissed on any other international stage where key decisions and discussions are had. We can't even stand up for ourselves.