Eye-watering cost of Victorian premier’s ‘secret’ China trip revealed

Victorian taxpayers will foot the more than $80k bill for Daniel Andrews and two of his staffers’ controversial six-day trade mission to China earlier this year.

Victorian taxpayers have been left with an $82,000 bill for Daniel Andrews’ secret trade mission to China.

Details of the trip were published on Thursday in accordance with government guidelines that require official reports to be published 60 working days after any ministerial travel.

It brings to $517,000 the amount Mr Andrews has spent on seven trips to China since 2015.

He has also visited the US, India, Israel and Greece, bringing his total overseas travel spend to $885,000.

Mr Andrews said the purpose of the most recent trip was to promote closer education, trade, and tourism ties, and to strengthen Victoria’s relationship with Jiangsu and Sichuan Provinces.

“My travel aligns with government priorities to promote Victoria’s interests and capabilities with the state’s largest trading partner, and largest pre-pandemic source of international visitors and international students, noting Victoria’s sister-states of Jiangsu and Sichuan Provinces are home to more than 160 million people,” he said in his report.

Just two staff accompanied him on the six day trip, director Ben Foster and senior adviser Marty Mei.

Daniel Andrews has spent more than $515,000 on trips to China in less than a decade.

Air fares for the trio cost $61,813, while accommodation for four nights totalled $14,933.

A further $5968 was spent on other expenses.

Mr Andrews was the first state leader to visit China since before the pandemic, and said his program consisted primarily of government-to-government meetings.

He said benefits to Victoria included supporting the return of international students to Victoria and encouraging greater tourism, cultural, and trade ties.

The Premier also revealed that since the trip he had received a reciprocal visit from the Party Secretary of Sichuan Province in May.

Works in progress included a commitment towards daily direct flights between Melbourne and Chengdu and establishing a working group with the Chinese Ministry of Education.

Premier Daniel Andrews arrives at Melbourne airport after returning from a visit to China. Picture: David Geraghty

The last time the Premier visited China, in 2019, he spent more than $100,000 on a four-day trip that also included a stop in Vietnam.

Ahead of his trip Mr Andrews told his ministers to cut back on overseas travel citing Victoria’s ongoing cost of living pressures.

The Premier has also urged ministers to prioritise travel to China, India, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam over more exotic trips to Europe and the US.

“Travel should … seek to promote Victoria’s interests by advancing our state’s international reputation, relationships with key partners, and expanding capability in areas of strategic interest,” he said.

“With Victorians facing significant cost of living pressures, the justification and efficiency of official ministerial travel is more important than ever.

“Fewer, more integrated trips, incorporating the countries identified above should be considered.”

Mr Andrews, treasurer Tim Pallas, and ministers Ben Carroll, Gayle Tierney and Lily D’Ambrosio have all travelled overseas since November’s election.

Originally published as Eye-watering cost of Victorian premier’s ‘secret’ China trip revealed