16 Feb 2026
Media release
WA Labor Government supporting secret takeover of Australia
The Labor government was supporting the clandestine takeover of Australia by granting Chinese communist government owned companies extraordinary powers to build and operate strategic assets in WA.
That’s the stark assessment from the Leader of the United Australia Party’s Senate Team for Western Australia, James McDonald, who says allowing Chinese state-owned conglomerate CITIC Limited to build a jet airstrip in the Pilbara and exercise control over the deep water port at Cape Preston should be deeply concerning for all Australians.
“Under a cloak of secrecy with the help of the Labor party, Chinese communist government owned companies have built a private jet airport approximately 80km south of Karratha and the existing Karratha airport,’’ Mr McDonald said.
“Built to the same standards as RAAF facilities in Queensland and the Northern Territory where Australia’s fighter aircraft are based, the new runway is just 30km from the huge port at Cape Preston where over 16 million tonnes of products are exported to China each year.
“It is completely beyond belief that Chinese communist government owned companies can control and occupy and airstrip that is able to take jet aircraft for their exclusive use,’’ he said.
Martin Brewster, retired squadron leader in the Royal Australian Air Force, said Australia could not repel military aircraft if they landed from carriers off shore.
“A superior military air force could, in effect, control all of Western Australia’s resources in the Pilbara and the North West Shelf,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, James McDonald said a former senior Royal Australian Navy source had informed him that the Port of Cape Preston had the facilities necessary to support and sustain large scale naval operations in the Indian Ocean.
“The power generation and water desalination plant together with the bunker fuel capacity provide the necessary logistics to support a large ground force with heavy equipment,’’ he said.
“Chinese State-owned companies have exercised control over all these facilities contrary to the security of Australia.
“If ever there was a breakdown in diplomatic relations with China and hostilities were to commence, the Chinese control of the Port of Cape Preston would mean Western Australia and its resources would be completely vulnerable,’’ he said.
Mr McDonald said serious questions needed to be asked over the WA Government’s close links to China.
“The growing camaraderie between the WA Government and Chinese communist government enterprises seeking to take Australian property is concerning for all Australians.
“It’s shocking that West Australian MP and Upper House Whip Pierre Yang, who was born in China, was found to have been affiliated with Chinese communist party groups dedicated to extending the Chinese communist party’s influence in Australia.
