Opposition pledges to drop ‘dud’ Belt and Road deal
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien has committed to scrapping the “dud” Belt and Road initiative if he is elected in 2022 as concerns escalate over Premier Daniel Andrews’ controversial agreement with Beijing.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The state Opposition has pledged to rip up Victoria’s controversial Belt and Road deal with China.
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien has committed to scrapping the “dud deal”, if he is elected in 2022.
The issue is now shaping as a critical battleground ahead of the next election, amid widespread and escalating concerns over the agreement.
“Victoria’s interests must come first. A dud deal that compromises jobs, security and sovereignty is not a deal that I can support,” Mr O’Brien said.
Premier Daniel Andrews’ agreement with Beijing has come under increasing scrutiny and criticism in recent weeks, amid ominous threats from China against Australia and fears the partnership undermines our national security.
Victoria is the only federal, state or territory jurisdiction in the nation to sign up.
Under the deal, first announced in 2018, Mr Andrews committed to working with Beijing on its $1 trillion investment in port, railway and highway projects across the globe.
The vague memorandum of understanding promises broad co-operation and “unimpeded trade” but does not lock Victoria into any specific projects.
But concerns over the deal have ratcheted up as China slapped huge tariffs on barley and banned beef from four abattoirs, while making threats over Australia’s push for a probe into the origins of the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he did not support Victoria’s deal, while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it increased the capacity of the Chinese Communist Party to “do harm”. Earlier this week, federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese distanced himself from Mr Andrews, saying: “A government I lead would not be signing up to the Belt and Road Initiative.”
But while the state Opposition called for the Andrews Government to release the details of the deal, it has not, until now, outlined a formal position on the BRI partnership.
“We have assessed Daniel Andrews’ Belt and Road deal with China looking at sovereignty, security, the economy and jobs,” Mr O’Brien said.
“On that assessment, the deal with the Chinese government is not in Victoria’s interests and a Michael O’Brien-led Liberal Nationals government will end it.”
MORE NEWS
MURDER-SUICIDE PROBE INTO NOTTING HILL MUM, SON
VICTORIANS’ BACK-TO-WORK PLANS SHELVED
COURT EMPLOYEE HACKED SYSTEM TO CREATE FAKE IVO
Originally published as Opposition pledges to drop ‘dud’ Belt and Road deal