The comments are being interpreted by MPs from both sides of politics as a criticism of the anti-Chinese influence group of Coalition and Labor backbench MPs who call themselves the Wolverines.
The Labor deputy leader made the remarks at the National Press Club after delivering a speech in which he attacked the government over the$90 billion future submarines program,saying Australians were less safe as a result of delays in the project.
While criticising the Morrison government for the way it had handled the China relationship,Mr Marles said Labor would be stronger on Beijing in some areas,including leaving open the option offreedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea.
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Australia's relationship with China has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic,with Beijing imposing more than $2 billion oftrade strikes on beef and barley after the Morrison government led the push for an independent inquiry into the handling of the outbreak. They have also been at odds in recent years over China's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea,Hong Kong and the future of its 5G provider Huawei.
Mr Marles said"diplomacy at a political level had been simply hopeless".
"We're seven years into this government and there is not one relationship of significance which exists between a Morrison government minister and a senior member of the Chinese government,"he said.