Victorian Treasurer under fire for ‘pro-Chinese’ comments about COVID-19

Comments made by the Victorian Government last year are coming back to haunt it after a deal with Communist China was torn up.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is being haunted by comments made about China after a deal between his government and Beijing was scrapped.

The Morrison government last night tore up Victoria’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) deal with China, calling it “inconsistent with Australia’s foreign policy”.

The decision was allowed to happen because of new veto powers which passed last year that make it possible for the Federal Government to overrule states when it comes to dealing with foreign parties.

As the fallout begins, attention is turning to Victoria’s relationship with China. On Melbourne radio Thursday morning, 3AW host Neil Mitchell ripped into Mr Andrews’ team for its “pro-Chinese” stance.

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas. Picture: Sarah Matray/NCA NewsWire

Mitchell took particular exception to comments made by Victorian Treasurer and Labor MP Tim Pallas who suggested Australia was being too harsh with China by demanding an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus.

The comments, in May last year, were made after China reacted by banning meat exports from Australia.

“This is inevitably a consequence of use of language that has sought to vilify China rather than to recognise these are events that will need appropriate scrutiny and review in time but what they don’t need is vilification of one nation who have gone through a very traumatic time themselves,” Mr Pallas said.

Mitchell told listeners on Thursday the comments were proof of a “pro-Chinese attitude of the Andrews Government”.

“China had banned meat exports from Australia. We were demanding an independent inquiry into where the coronavirus came from. Was it accidental? Deliberate? Australia was standing up and saying we need to have a full independent inquiry,” he said.

“And this is what friend of the Chinese, Treasurer Tim Pallas, had to say about Australia standing up for what is right. China was secretive. Our own Treasurer said, ‘Stop vilifying them’ and that’s the pro-Chinese attitude of the Andrews Government.”

Mr Pallas had been asked if, given the tension between Australia and China, Victoria should suspend its dealings with Beijing. His response was simple.

“Absolutely not,” Mr Pallas said. “We need to be balanced and measured in terms of our engagement with a long-term trading partner.”

News.com.au approached Mr Pallas’ office for comment. A Victoria Government spokeswoman said: “The Foreign Relations Act is entirely a matter for the Commonwealth Government. The Victorian Government will continue to work hard to deliver jobs, trade and economic opportunities for our state.”

Foreign Minister Marise Payne, in announcing the scrapping of the BRI, said there were four state-organised “arrangements” that would be vetoed, including one with Iran and one with Syria.

“I consider these four arrangements to be inconsistent with Australia’s foreign policy or adverse to our foreign relations in line with the relevant test in Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act 2020,’’ she said.

“I will continue to consider foreign arrangements notified under the Scheme. I expect the overwhelming majority of them to remain unaffected. I look forward to ongoing collaboration with states, territories, universities and local governments in implementing the Foreign Arrangements Scheme.”

Daniel Andrews in Tiananmen Square, China. Picture: @danielAndrewsMP/Twitter

China quickly hit back at Australia over what it called an “unreasonable and provocative move”.

In a statement, a Chinese Embassy spokesman slammed the decision which is expected to plunge the fractured relationship into greater acrimony.

“We express our strong displeasure and resolute opposition to the Australian Foreign Minister’s announcement on April 21 to cancel the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation within the Framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the related Framework Agreement between the Chinese side and Government of Victoria,” the spokesman said.

“This is another unreasonable and provocative move taken by the Australian side against China. It further shows that the Australian government has no sincerity in improving China-Australia relations.

“It is bound to bring further damage to bilateral relations, and will only end up hurting itself.”

– With Samantha Maiden