Daniel Andrews defends not bringing media on four-day China trip

Daniel Andrews has been grilled at a fiery press conference while speaking for the first time since returning from his China trip.

Daniel Andrews says it was his decision not to allow journalists on his China trip. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

DANIEL Andrews’ Chinese trade mission will remain shrouded in secrecy as he defended his controversial media blackout.

The Premier on Sunday was forced to defend questions about the four-day international trip which he maintains was not appropriate for journalists to attend.

But questions over the secretive trip remain, with the prolific social media user yet to share one image from the international expedition.

Mr Andrews, who was the first state leader to visit China since before the pandemic, rejected suggestions that he had failed to be transparent with Victorian taxpayers, insisting it was a trip filled with important “back-to-back meetings”.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan recently announced he would take reporters on his upcoming trip to China.

Daniel Andrews came under fire for not allowing journalists to come on the trip. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

Mr Andrews’ private office instead opted to provide carefully-crafted and often vague daily statement about his travels and the meetings he had.

“This trip was not about me, and with the greatest of respect, it was not about you - it was about the future of Victoria,” he said when probed as to why the media was shut out.

“When you travel to China, you don’t get to interview any of the people that I would meet with. You would’ve been talking to me about what I had just done. You wouldn’t have been in the room, and you would certainly have not been interviewing governors or mayors or education ministers. That’s not how it works.

“I’m not saying that’s a good thing. It’s not.”

Opposition Leader John Pesutto on Sunday slammed the Premier’s decision to fly to China without media, saying the trip has been “shrouded in secrecy”.

“When the Premier arrived back at Melbourne Airport (on Saturday), he looked like a man with something to hide,” he said.

“All he’s got to show for his trip to China this week is the establishment of three working groups.

“Many questions still remain about this trip and we intend to pursue them.”

Mr Pesutto said he would still push to establish a parliamentary inquiry into the Chinese trade mission, despite the Greens ruling out support for a probe.

He also criticised the Premier for labelling the proposed inquiry a “political stunt”.

“If Daniel Andrews thinks that transparency is a stunt ... and scrutiny is a stunt, well we’ve got real problems in this state,” Mr Pesutto said.

The basis of the trip, Mr Andrews said, was entirely focused on trade, cultural ties and the return of Chinese students to Melbourne.

Premier Daniel Andrews declined to speak about the trip when arriving at Melbourne Airport. Picture: David Geraghty

He said the recent AUKUS deal, or China’s record on human rights was not discussed.

“If they had been raised, I would have offered very little comment other than to say they’re not matters that I have responsibility for,” he said.

Mr Andrews added he didn’t take part in any undisclosed meetings with other Chinese figures, including businesses involved with works on Victoria’s Big Build agenda. And he said there was no mention of the now-scrapped Belt and Road initiative, which was torn up by the former Commonwealth government.

Mr Andrews also said it was not a moral failure on his part to not raise the case of detained Chinese-born Victorian journalist Cheng Lei with Chinese officials, despite pleas from her Melbourne based partner.

Mr Andrews said he didn’t think not allowing media to attend sent a dangerous message or precedent to Chinese officials about future journeys.

“This was about sending a really clear message that after a terrible, disruptive event, we still value and we want to see the relationship and partnership deepen,” he said.

“We stand by what was a full program and an important program, and one where we got a very important reception.”

A working group between Victoria’s Department of Jobs and the Chinese Ministry of Education to help attract more Chinese students to Melbourne will be established.

Another Victorian-led group will be created with the Sichuan region to build on existing trade ties to ensure more Victorian goods can be exported.

And a task force, also led by the Premier’s Department will begin with Jiangsu Province, which is a sister state, to set out upcoming priorities for the two jurisdictions.