Michael O’Brien: Belt and Road deal has to go
The Belt and Road deal has been rejected by our nation’s leaders — Labor and Liberal — for good reason. But Daniel Andrews thinks he knows better than everyone else when in reality his arrogance is jeopardising our security and costing us jobs, writes Michael O’Brien.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
In state politics, leaders must always remember who they work for: Victorians.
It’s not about ego. It’s not about party. It’s certainly not about impressing foreign countries.
It’s about the lives of more than six million Victorians.
That’s why, if Victorians elect me as Premier, I will tear up Daniel Andrews’ Belt and Road deal with the Chinese government.
Why tear it up? Because it’s a dud deal that isn’t in your interests.
It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly. In 2018, Andrews signed Victoria up to a secret deal with the Chinese government. He never asked for our consent, but he did it anyway.
The Belt and Road deal has been rejected by our nation’s leaders — Labor and Liberal — for good reason. But the Premier reckons he knows better than everyone else. His arrogance is jeopardising our security and it’s costing us jobs.
To be clear, I’m not opposed to trade deals. Victoria grows more than we could eat, we make more than we could use and we offer educational and tourism opportunities that nowhere else could match. So I love the fact others want to visit, learn and trade with us. And we would not be Victoria without the amazing contribution that our local Chinese community has made to our state, a contribution I value and will always promote.
But the Belt and Road deal is a one-way street — and we’re the ones driving the wrong way.
Labor’s deal requires Chinese companies to build Victoria’s major infrastructure.
Andrews handed a Chinese government-owned company contracts to build the Metro Tunnel, remove level crossings and build the botched West Gate Tunnel. What has the Chinese government given us in return?
An 80 per cent tariff on Victorian barley — smashing our farmers and costing jobs.
But my decision to end the Belt and Road deal with China is about more than jobs. It’s also about sovereignty and security.
Victorians needs to be in control of our own future. We can’t afford to mortgage our future to anyone else.
Andrews refuses to say how much of his $25 billion in new debt he will get from China and what the obligations will be. The Premier refused to seek advice from national security agencies before signing a deal with Beijing.
He put his party and his ego before Victoria’s security and interests. I don’t want Victoria’s deals with China to undermine national security arrangements.
Michael O’Brien is Victorian Liberal Leader