Premier’s China trip report to be published

Daniel Andrews’ recent China visit was shrouded in secrecy, with media not invited, but a report on his travels will now be made public.

A report into Daniel Andrews’ secretive four-day China visit is due to be published on Thursday.

Under Victorian Government guidelines, reports must be published 60 working days after any ministerial travel and must detail the cost of the travel, the purpose of the travel and the benefit of the travel to Victoria.

The Premier’s trade mission to China in March was criticised as being shrouded in secrecy after media were not invited to attend.

He was the first state leader to visit China since before the pandemic, and instead published vague daily statements about his travels and the meetings he had.

Daniel Andrews greeted by media at Melbourne airport after returning from China in March. Picture: David Geraghty

Few details from the trip – that was focused on trade, cultural ties and the return of Chinese students to Melbourne – have been revealed.

The state Opposition failed in a bid to establish a parliamentary inquiry into the trip.

It would have probed whether the transparency and accountability of the trip was affected by the Premier’s decision to travel without media accompaniment as well as the timing of the decision to travel to China.

The last time the Premier visited China, in 2019, he spent more than $100,000 on a four-day trip that also included a stop in Vietnam.

Daniel Andrews pictured on a previous China trip. Picture: Instagram

The airfares alone cost $75,000, with a further $25,000 spent on accommodation and other expenses for the five person delegation.

In April Mr Andrews told his ministers to cut back on overseas travel citing Victoria’s ongoing cost of living pressures.

The Premier has also urged ministers to prioritise travel to China, India, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam over more exotic trips to Europe and the US.

Mr Andrews, treasurer Tim Pallas, and ministers Ben Carroll, Gayle Tierney and Lily D’Ambrosio have all travelled overseas since November’s election.

On February 28, a month before his own trade mission to China, Mr Andrews wrote to ministers urging them to carefully consider the need for international trips.

“Travel should … seek to promote Victoria’s interests by advancing our state’s international reputation, relationships with key partners, and expanding capability in areas of strategic interest,” he said.

“While travel to major markets such as the European Union, United Kingdom and United States remains important, all travel should ideally also accommodate travel to one or more priority markets of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Vietnam.

“With Victorians facing significant cost of living pressures, the justification and efficiency of official ministerial travel is more important than ever.

“Fewer, more integrated trips, incorporating the countries identified above should be considered.”

Ministers were advised to consider instead hosting international visitors, and engaging with locally-based stakeholders.