Andrews Government locked in stand-off over Belt and Road deal

The Andrews government is locked in a stand-off over the Belt and Road deal, with representatives refusing to engage with a Senate committee probing new laws that will allow the commonwealth to rip up the controversial agreement with China.

The Andrews government is refusing to engage with a Senate committee probing new laws that will allow the commonwealth to rip up Victoria’s Belt and Road deal with China.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief legal officer Simon Newnham told the committee on Tuesday that officials “advised caution” when Victoria raised the prospect of signing the controversial agreement in 2018.

He said it was made clear to the Andrews government that the commonwealth’s position was not to sign up to the Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, and to consider projects on a case-by-case basis.

DFAT was only shown Victoria’s framework agreement on the day it was signed in 2019.

Scott Morrison is now preparing to cancel the deal with new powers giving the commonwealth oversight of agreements between the states and foreign governments.

But the Andrews government is refusing to engage with the Senate committee reviewing the laws, and a spokesman did not answer questions about the legal advice it had obtained.

“The Victorian government is waiting on the outcome of the Senate committee deliberations and the proposed federal legislation,” the spokesman said.

“We have no update on the framework agreement at this time.”

Chinese Communist Party interference expert Professor Clive Hamilton told the committee the Belt and Road deal undermined foreign policy and followed years of “careful grooming” by China of “senior political leaders” in Victoria.

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