Premier Daniel Andrews signs new Belt and Road deal on China trip
Top federal government figures are seething after Daniel Andrews used his recent China trip to sign a controversial infrastructure deal which has been criticised by Peter Dutton.
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Daniel Andrews has left federal government figures fuming by using his China trip to sign a new deal tying Victoria to a controversial infrastructure plan and back a research agreement with an aviation giant linked to industrial espionage.
The Premier tonight announced an agreement formally connecting Victoria to President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road plan, which will see Chinese firms encouraged to set up shop here and helped to bid to build projects including the airport rail link and the Suburban Rail Loop.
Mr Andrews also backed Monash University’s $10 million agreement with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, which a leading cyber security firm last week claimed was tied to the state-backed theft of intellectual property from US rivals.
The Belt and Road “framework agreement”, struck with China’s National Development and Reform Commission, commits Victoria to the “joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative”.
A working group, chaired by Mr Andrews and the NRDC’s vice chairman, will meet every six months and expects to sign a co-operation “road map” by the middle of next year.
Victoria and China have promised to work together on:
MAJOR infrastructure projects so that Chinese companies can become involved in the state’s construction pipeline.
INNOVATION and research on manufacturing, biotechnology and agriculture technology.
EFFORTS to tackle the effects of ageing populations.
ENHANCED trade of agricultural products, food, cosmetics and nutraceuticals.
Victoria will work with Chinese authorities to set up a “joint infrastructure accelerator to support co-operation on infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative”.
Mr Andrews spruiked Victoria’s major projects at an investment roundtable in China, featuring the leaders of top Chinese construction, engineering and investment firms.
Speaking prior to the announcement of the Belt and Road agreement, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said: “Why does he believe this is in our national interest? Why does he believe it’s in Victoria’s interest?”
“It’s a decision that’s been made by Mr Andrews, so he can justify the decision. I haven’t heard the rationale or the reasoning behind what seemed to be a pretty rushed decision,” Mr Dutton said.
The federal government is not formally backing China’s Belt and Road plan, but Mr Andrews said he hoped his federal counterparts would work closely with China, adding that “we need a strong partnership”.
“Victoria is proud of its longstanding and valued partnership with China and this new framework agreement helps take it to the next level,” he said.
“Our close relationship with China, including through the MOU on the Belt and Road Initiative, helps put Victoria at the front of the queue when it comes to Chinese investment, and that means jobs for Victoria.”
Mr Andrews also witnessed the signing of an agreement between Monash and COMAC that will see the company invest $10 million on a new research and development centre at Clayton.
A senior federal government figure said they had “serious concerns” over Monash’s decision to go ahead with the deal in the wake of the industrial espionage accusations.
In August, the federal government established a university foreign interference taskforce to encourage universities to consult with security agencies when establishing joint venture.
“This is exactly why we set up the taskforce,” the figure said.
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He said he was “perplexed” as to why Mr Andrews would associate himself with the deal.
Monash University said in a statement that the university “provides regular briefings for government and agencies — upon request — at state and federal level on our operations in international locations”.
It said that when entering into any agreement it followed the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.
A spokesman for Mr Andrews said the deal was a commercial arrangement between Monash University and COMAC, which should help create high-end manufacturing jobs in Victoria.
“We support this deal and all the work done by Monash University to make it a reality,” he said.