An Australian citizen has been sentenced to 10 years prison in a Chinese court best described as a kangaroo court.

Australia is not impressed.

Prime Minister Rudd says there are “serious unanswered questions” about the case, and that China has “missed an opportunity to demonstrate to the world at large transparency that would be consistent with its emerging global role”. 

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, didn’t like that: “We express serious concern about the Australian statements on the Rio Tinto case . . . Australia should respect this outcome and stop making irresponsible comments.”

China, home of injustice, with hundreds of political death sentences every year, is a disgrace to the human race.

But what can we do? Refuse them our iron ore and coal? Would they miss it?

China can buy and sell Australia –manufacturing industry-wise — out of its piggy-bank.

* * *

About all Australia can do is to set an example.

To some extent we already do.

With our Christian heritage and belief in justice and the rule of law — based on Biblical Law and the Christian gospel — we are the kind of country every asylum-seeker hopes to end up in, by fair means or foul.

Yet is there not a whiff of corruption and decay in the Australian air?

* * *

Australia is not the carefree place it once was.

Nowadays you lock your car. You teach your children to be suspicious of all strangers. You don’t walk about in the dark.

You tolerate disgusting scenes and lyrics served up as “entertainment” . . . things that are obviously destroying your children’s minds and souls . . . but you seem to be addicted to them.

Most decadent of all are the casinos where money-worship, money-laundering, prostitution, drug-dealing and greed are winked at and considered the ultimate in sophistication.

* * *

In the last book of the Bible, God warns hypocrites, “I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked . . . .”