b'Canberra observed you would be doing very well now. AndPerhaps we shouldnt be surprised byOur current government wants to give tax of course, the very wealthy would alwaysthe success of the billionaires. Aftercuts to those who have jobs and income, have funds to do that. all, the Matthew effect (For to everyoneand reduce the funds provided who have who has will more be given, and he willno jobs and no income.The All Ords trend is continuing to rise, andhave abundance; but from him who has looks likely to approach record levels verynot, even what he has will be taken away.Eventually these, and similar actions, soon as effective vaccines are developedMatt25, 29) has been known for at least acould weaken our social cohesion by to keep the virus at bay. The COVID-19 blipcouple of thousand years. impoverishing and disempowering the may soon be just that, a small blip thatmany poor for the benefit of the few who happened in the past. Furthermore, governments frequentlyare better off. It doesnt seem to make take action to encourage wealth disparity.much sense.Not much sense in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership eitherWith much publicity, Australia is now partchina-economy/article/3109794/china- It is high time our government changed of 15 Asian nations who have signed upaustralia-relations-dispute-leaves-400- tack on our relationships with China and to a free-trade deal along with China,seafarers), at least 21 bulk carriers aredoes it quickly. I heard Geoff Raby talk Japan and Korea. We are told the Regionalanchored off the Port of Jingtang andat Press Club earlier this month. Raby is Comprehensive Economic Partnershiphave been unable to offload theira former ambassador to China, and he is (RCEP) was signed after eight years ofAustralian coal that could be wortharguing that Australian diplomacy must secret negotiations. The benefits are notaround US$200 million. Fifteen of thebe recalibrated to cope with the world as evident and, as our coal, copper, wine,ships have been waiting since June,it is - not how we would wish it to be.barley, sugar, timber and lobsters are stillaccording to the Bloomberg analysis, being held up outside Chinese ports, itwhile the remainder have been delayedThe get-tough policy on China with no doesnt seem to have helped us with ourat least four weeks. Most of the 2-3apparent goal has left Australia isolated relationships with China. million tonnes is coking coal used forand vulnerable. It is probably too late for making steel. If the RCEP cant help ussubtle diplomacy. Its time for action that According to a Bloomberg reportsolve these problems, what use is it? can bridge the cultural gap, and maybe (https://www.scmp.com/economy/ even a bit of grovelling.DECEMBER 2020 PREVIEW 26'