‘Despicable and menacing’: Government MPs attack Chinese ambassador

Jingye Cheng suggested Chinese people may boycott Australia's exports over a push for a coronavirus investigation. Image: ABC News

Two Federal Government backbenchers have hit out at China's response to the coronavirus pandemic, with one describing recent comments from the Chinese Ambassador as "downright despicable."

China has reacted angrily to Australia's push for an international investigation into COVID-19, which is believed to have started in the city of Wuhan.

Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman said he was disappointed by the Chinese Ambassador's suggestion that it could lead to a boycott of Australian products.

"I thought the Ambassador's comments were downright despicable and menacing," he said.

"But in the broader framework we should have a relationship with China that allows us to be raising these issues whilst also recognising that China will always be an important partner for us."

Former Turnbull government minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells criticised the appearance of the Victorian Chinese Consul General at a coronavirus testing announcement alongside businessman Andrew Forrest and Health Minister Greg Hunt.

"It was unfortunate, I don't think we should have afforded that opportunity and it did put Minister Hunt in a very difficult position yesterday," she said.

"This is what the communist regime is doing all over the world. We have seen that the regime in Beijing is desperately trying to re-establish a degree of credibility after the virus has happened, they are desperately trying to deflect the origins of the virus."

Senator Fierravanti-Wells said the pandemic must lead to changes in Australia's relationship with China.

"It is incumbent upon us to look at how we can decouple from China and how we can become a lot more self-sufficient, how we can regain our sovereignty," she said.

"We have to look at how we do business in Australia, business as usual is no longer an option with the Communist regime post the Wuhan virus and that's something that Australians expect."

By political reporter Jade MacMillan