Billionaire businessman Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has urged politicians to tone down the anti-China rhetoric.
The Coalition has this week significantly ramped up its criticism of the Labor Party, seeking to cast it as weak on national security and China.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Dr Forrest said the campaign was reminiscent of “reds under the bed” – a reference to the mentality agents of communism were hiding in plain sight during the Cold War.
“I think it's a little bit you know, reds under the bed,” he said.
“We‘ve had these so-called threats come and go. My parents told me about the 1950s – North America was gonna (sic) buy the whole country and take it back to California.
“Then the Japanese came in, look at we're all moving to Tokyo. I’ve seen these phases come and go.
“I just say to the political spectrum: calm down, we live in the best country in the world and – by the way – it’s got this great moat around it, a bit hard to attack, and a whole lot of hairy-chested friends.”
But only hours later, Scott Morrison was dialling up his attack.
“We’ve got an election coming up where Australians have to make an important decision about who is best to lead them in these incredibly uncertain times,” the Prime Minister told reporters in Alice Springs.
“We've got Russian troops amassed on Ukraine’s border. We’ve got coercion on Australia’s interests here in our own region.
“I think Australians have to compare and contrast between the government I lead on national security and the alternative.
“Labor just doesn't measure up to the mark.”
Trade Minister Dan Tehan called on Anthony Albanese to set the record straight on where he stood on national security.
“When it comes to national security, you have to pass the character test. What (Mr Morrison) is saying, is that means you have to speak loudly with one voice,” he said.
“If you are on Team Australia and you support the approach that’s been taken, then categorically come out and say that.”
But Labor has accused Mr Morrison of using the debate as “polixjmtzywtical football”.
“We've got the Prime Minister tossing around patriotism as though it’s any other thing that exists in the political content,” deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said.
“If you're putting on your uniform each and every day and you’re willing to put your life on the line and then you see the Prime Minister tossing around this idea in that way, I mean, how do you feel about that?”
