‘Visiting with the begging bowl’: Opposition questions Andrews China visit
Premier Dan Andrews is expected fly to China within days, as the Victorian government faces enormous blowouts on projects - many of them involving China-based owners.
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Premier Daniel Andrews is set to fly out to China in his first visit since his government’s contentious Belt and Road deal was torn up.
The Premier is expected to be away for up to a week and will leave in the coming days.
It comes as the state government faces enormous blowouts in its building projects, many of them built by companies with China-based owners.
The state government last night would not talk about the trip, but speculation has mounted the government’s tour may be part of a push to renegotiate contracts and discuss the potential for further work.
Mr Andrews will fly into China amid rising tensions over the federal government's historic nuclear submarine program under a $368bn defence deal with the United Kingdom and USA.
The agreement has been slammed by China, that has accused the countries of undermining stability in the region.
But it also comes as moves are being made to end trade tensions, with trade ministers from both nations expected to visit each other in coming months.
If relations continue to thaw it is hoped punishing tariffs on important exports like wine and barley could be lifted.
Chinese companies are also starting to accept Australian coal imports,that have been cut off since 2019.
The Andrews government’s trip is set to be announced as early as Sunday and would be his first China visit since before the pandemic.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been informed about the trip.
When elected to office, Mr Andrews said he intended to visit the superpower every year and he required every one of his ministers attend at least one trip to the country before the 2018 state election.
His government’s relationship with the country has come under scrutiny at times amid growing international concerns about China’s rising power and influence.
During his last visit in October 2019 he spruiked Victorian projects at an “Infrastructure Roadshow” in Beijing but signed a framework agreement with China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative.
This agreement was later torn up by the Morrison government under new laws that allowed them to cancel deals between states and foreign powers.
Critics of the Belt and Road deal have labelled it “debt trap diplomacy” and likened it to payday loans because poor countries can receive multi-billion dollar loans they cannot pay back.
Key Victorian projects linked to Chinese companies include the Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel, which have had multi-billion dollar blowouts amid delays and the high cost of building materials and labour.
Victorian Opposition spokesman David Davis said:
“It is important that premiers keep close contact with major trading partners to spruik Victoria’s many business interests but it is also important that when premiers go overseas they go in a position of strength, not beholden to Chinese companies and not indebted to companies controlled by the Chinese communist party or facing massive cost blowouts – in effect visiting with the begging bowl.”
The Andrews government did not respond to requests for comment in time by deadline.
Originally published as ‘Visiting with the begging bowl’: Opposition questions Andrews China visit
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