Belt and Road: Daniel Andrews to explain China deal before Senate

Daniel Andrews may be called to appear before a Senate inquiry to answer questions about his controversial deal with China.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has not ruled out appearing before a Senate inquiry to answer questions about his controversial Belt and Road deal with China, but says his “focus is elsewhere” dealing with the coronavirus.

The Andrews government blindsided Canberra in 2018 with the announcement that it had signed the state up to the Communist Party’s $1.5 trillion program, which is widely viewed as a way for the regime to project power in foreign countries by investing in large-scale infrastructure projects.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison last month unveiled new legislation that would effectively tear up Victoria’s agreement with Beijing by giving the Federal Government power to cancel any state or local government’s deal with a foreign power if it is deemed “inconsistent with federal foreign affairs policy”.

Mr Andrews reacted angrily to the PM’s announcement, refusing to concede the Belt and Road Initiative was a national security threat and describing it as a “passport to export”.

The Australian reported today that the Senate’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee has written to all premiers and chief ministers seeking submissions on the Foreign Relations Bill, with the committee’s chair, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz, saying it was hoped Mr Andrews would agree to appear before the inquiry.

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Picture: Thet Aung/AFP

At his daily COVID-19 press conference on Wednesday, Mr Andrews was asked whether his government would make a submission and whether he would appear in person.

“As to a submission, we would always reserve the right through our normal process to put a submission in,” he said.

“As far as the second part of your question, I just have to say, with the greatest of respect to the Senate and the chairman of that committee, my focus is elsewhere and I reckon Victorians would expect nothing different.”

Asked if he was refusing to appear, Mr Andrews replied, “I don’t think I said that. I don’t think I came anywhere near saying that. What I said was my focus is elsewhere. It might be news to, again, with the greatest of respect, to the Australian Senate, but there’s a global pandemic on and I’m pretty focused on getting these numbers down.”

Senator Abetz earlier told The Australian that given Mr Andrews had “doubled down on his support for the BRI, it would be of interest to the committee if he were to front the committee and argue his case”.

“Of course, we would never subpoena or force anybody from another parliament, or indeed ­another house, to appear before the committee,” he told the paper. “What we do is we invite them.”

Polling released earlier this month suggested Victorian voters overwhelmingly want the state to tear up the China deal – the details of which still remain vague – with even Labor supporters largely opposed.