It has taken some time, but now there is an emerging small degree of criticism of China, not in academia, or much of the media, but a start in parliament:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7752737/Senator-Jacqui-Lambie-slams-Chinas-insidious-influence-infiltration-Australian-politics.html?ico=pushly-notifcation-small
“A line-up of powerful senators has condemned China's 'insidious' and growing influence on Australia, warning our democracy and way of life are being undermined. One by one they spoke out against the Communist superpower, from the bribing of Labor Party officials to the suspicious death of a Chinese intelligence informer, groomed as a possible Liberal candidate. The outspoken crossbench lawmakers savaged China's growing influence only hours after official figures showed Australia was even more reliant on our major trading partner to prop up the flagging economy. For the first time since 1973, Australia's exports were worth more than the imports for two consecutive quarters - a rare situation known as a current account surplus. Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie accused the Coalition government and the Labor opposition of ignoring the China threat - hours after the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures were released. She stressed her concerns were with the Chinese government and not Chinese immigrants, who first came to Australia during the 1850s gold rush. The major parties joined forces to defeat the call for a Senate inquiry into China.”