Premier to reveal what was discussed and who he met on China trip
Premier Daniel Andrews will on Sunday reveal who he met and what happened on his mission to China.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Premier Daniel Andrews is set to reveal new details on Victoria’s tourism, trade and student ties with China.
After returning on Saturday from his four-day trip, Mr Andrews is expected to announce a deepening of the state’s relationship with China but it is not expected to include major new initiatives.
Mr Andrews flew out last Sunday on a closely guarded trip with no media taken and limited details released.
Upon touching down back in Melbourne, the Premier refused to answer questions from waiting media.
“It was a fantastic trip and I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow,” he said.
Opposition Leader John Pesutto on Saturday called for the Premier to come clean on his dealings.
“It’s time for the Premier to do what he’s been avoiding all week – to tell Victorians the truth about his secretive China trip,” he said.
Mr Andrews refused to answer why he was so secretive about the trip, instead repeating to reporters that it was a “fantastic trip”.
Mr Andrews’ office provided a brief statement daily about who he met and what was discussed. It is unclear whether Mr Andrews met with companies working on Big Build projects.
The trip, which was ticked off by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was endorsed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese almost two months ago.
Prior to his departure, Mr Andrews said he would not raise the case of detained Chinese-born Australian journalist Cheng Lei.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the Australian government had “advocated at every opportunity for Ms Cheng to be reunited with her family”.
Mr Andrews made a swift exit from the arrival gates, and kept his head down from cameras as he bolted towards to his waiting car.
The Premier has been criticised for failing to bring the media to China. Free press advocates say China is the biggest jailer of journalists and doesn’t have a “free media”.
Mr Andrews’ office provided a brief daily statement about who he met and what was discussed on each day.
It is unclear whether Mr Andrews met with companies working on the state’s Big Build projects.
The Premier’s office has maintained the trip was focused on trade, cultural ties and the return of Chinese students to Melbourne.
The trip, which was ticked off by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was endorsed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese almost two months before Mr Andrews’ departure.
Visas were issued after the Department of Premier and Cabinet provided suggestions of meetings to the Chinese consulate.
Details of the trip have been released by the Premier’s Private Office amid controversy over his decision to travel without media or industry officials.
He was instead accompanied by the secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and two members of his office.
Mr Andrews on Saturday refused to answer whether he raised the case of detained Chinese-born Australian journalist Cheng Lei, while overseas. He had earlier said he wouldn’t do so because it was a matter for the federal government.
Friday marked one-year since Ms Lei faced a closed trial in Beijing on national security charges.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the Australian government has “advocated at every opportunity for Ms Cheng to be reunited with her family”.
Phil Honeywood, chief executive of International Education Association of Australia, on Friday said the trip was highly unusual.
“We appreciate the fact that the Premier is meeting with our No.1 international student source, but the trip would have been much more productive if it had involved educational providers and industry peak bodies,” Mr Honeywood said.
Earlier this month, federal Education Minister Jason Clare led a delegation of Australian higher education leaders to India to promote Australia’s institutional partnerships and boost collaboration between the countries.
At least 15 education specialists were involved in the trip.
Each day of his four day trip, Mr Andrews has published a running sheet of who he met with and bare details of what was discussed.
On Thursday, the daily briefing noted Mr Andrews met with Mr Wang Xiaohui, party secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, to discuss the intent of students from Sichuan province to study in Victoria.
Mr Xiaohui accepted an invitation from the Premier to visit Victoria.
The state opposition is pushing ahead with plans to launch a parliamentary inquiry into the trip, despite the Greens ruling out support for the probe.
When parliament resumes in May, Victoria’s upper house will be asked to vote on whether the trip should be investigated by the economy and infrastructure committee.
But it will need the support of every crossbench MP, after the Greens said they would vote against the probe.
An inquiry could force the secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Jeremi Moule, to provide evidence and information about the trip.
It could also request, but not compel, Mr Andrews to give evidence.
More Coverage
Would you pay $52K a year to send a child to school? Some do
Annual fees at one Melbourne private school will next year be set at more than $52,000 for year ten students — and it’s not the only elite Victorian college that’s jacked up fees for 2025.
‘It’s shocking’: Grieving brother will never forgive Daylesford driver
The devastated brother of a mother and young daughter killed when a car smashed into a Daylesford beer garden has spoken of his shock after the diabetic driver walked free.