Former Prime Minister Paul Keating Launches Fierce Critique of Nine Newspapers' 'Red Alert' Series
In a powerful statement released on Friday, former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has delivered a blistering condemnation of Nine Entertainment's newspapers, specifically targeting the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age. Keating's criticism centers on their controversial "Red Alert" series published three years ago, which dramatically warned that Australia faced an imminent military conflict with China requiring preparedness to fight within just three years.
The Controversial Prediction That Sparked National Debate
The "Red Alert" series, published on March 7, 2023, featured a front-page declaration from five national security experts asserting that Australia's primary danger originated from China. The report controversially claimed that while official government guidance suggested Australia would have less than ten years' warning of potential conflict, these experts believed the timeline was misleading and that the nation needed to be ready for war within just three years.
Keating's statement, released precisely on the eve of that three-year milestone, declared unequivocally: "None of the claims have materialised." The former prime minister characterized the series as "the most egregious and provocative news presentation I have witnessed in over fifty years of active public life."
Personal Criticism and Journalistic Accountability
Keating directed particularly harsh criticism toward Peter Hartcher, the international editor who authored the series, labeling him "maladroit" and recalling previous insults including "psychopath" and "old acid drop" from the original controversy. The former prime minister questioned how Hartcher could remain in his position despite what Keating described as "delinquent and wilful" journalism.
Hartcher had previously responded to Keating's criticism in a 2024 opinion piece, characterizing the former prime minister as "Australia's foremost apologist for the Chinese Communist Party" and accusing him of "bloody-mindedness in retirement" with "autocratic tendencies."
Broader Criticism and Editorial Changes
The "Red Alert" series faced substantial criticism beyond Keating's remarks. Media Watch host Paul Barry described it as hysterical and hyperbolic, while journalist Margaret Simons reported in Guardian Australia that foreign affairs specialists had variously labeled the series "pretentious," "irresponsible," and implicitly racist in its portrayal of China.
Keating specifically criticized then-editor Bevan Shields for allowing Hartcher "to concoct a China-threat story aided by a group of handpicked anti-China accomplices." Shields has since stepped down as Sydney Morning Herald editor, replaced by Jordan Baker, whom Keating expressed hope might reject "amoral standards of journalism" in the publication.
Geopolitical Context and Historical Perspective
In his statement, Keating provided geopolitical context, noting that "Apart from a brief border conflict with Vietnam in 1979, China has not attacked any state in just on half a century." He contrasted this with United States military actions, referencing "last weekend's premeditated attack on Iran" as evidence of American aggression toward other nations.
The former prime minister characterized the "Red Alert" series as "replete with lurid images of Chinese military aircraft descending upon Australia" and declared it represented "one of the most shameful episodes in the history of Australian journalism."
Both Nine Entertainment and Peter Hartcher declined to comment on Keating's latest criticisms, maintaining silence as the controversy surrounding the three-year-old prediction continues to generate debate about journalistic responsibility, international relations reporting, and media ethics in national security coverage.
