ST.com News: Aussie xenophobia barrier

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Oct 30, 2010
ST.com News: Aussie xenophobia barrier

WHENEVER Singapore Inc ventures into Australia, those in the know brace themselves for an onslaught of indignant opposition - centring not on the merits of the business deal, but on Singapore's human rights record.

In 2001, SingTel was involved in a bid for Optus, Australia's No.2 telecoms firm. Opponents of the deal alleged that SingTel was part of the Singapore Government. Mr Hamish McDonald, the foreign editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, attacked the Republic for its 'snoopy record on human rights and political freedom'. He also asked why SingTel would want to expand into 'white trash' Australia, a reference to a remark Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had once made.

Fast forward nine years, and it's deja vu. Last week, news broke that the Singapore Exchange ...

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