Dragon Territory

Book excerpt: Chinese coolies dug for gold and built Darwin: they were rewarded with racism and exiled under the White Australia Policy. But some stayed and persevered. Their homes were looted and burned during World War 2. Again they rebuilt and became stronger. Today they are resurgent, this time with the support of the Celestial Kingdom; sovereign funds with Australia's richest miners have become the biggest landowners, buying the ports and subverting the politicians. The economy is in decline and business has no answers other than to increase exports of gas. The novice Government can't make a decision, calling for more reviews, more plans and further inquiries. The only solution is in the hands of the Vietnamese and the Chinese. But at what cost? The police are riven by scandal, the public service incompetent and the Government resembles a bunch of wallabies frozen in a spotlight. The neighbourhood remains the only bulwark against terrorism: can they save the Territory from the Dragon?