Malcolm Turnbull, the former Goldman Sachs executive who last year became leader of Australia' federal opposition, has launched a stinging attack on Chinalco's proposed $19.5bn investment in Rio Tinto, the Anglo-Australian mining group.
Mr Turnbull has called on Canberra to reject the controversial deal, the largest investment ever undertaken by a Chinese company, because it fails to meet Australia's national interest.
The surprise intervention by Mr Turnbull, the most senior politician yet in Australia to oppose the deal, comes as the country's Foreign Investment Review Board enters the final six weeks of its assessment period on the tie-up between the Chinese metals company and Rio.