Daniel Andrews defends China deal despite Australian’s death sentence

Victorian Premier says diplomacy over Australian drug smuggler’s death penalty in China should be left to the feds.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has defended his government’s controversial Belt and Road agreement with China following the country’s decision to execute an Australian man on drug charges. Picture: Stuart McEvoy/ The Australian.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has defended his government’s Belt and Road agreement with China following the country’s decision to execute an Australian man on drug charges.

Mr Andrews said that level of diplomacy was for the federal government and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“We obviously oppose, deplore and condemn the death penalty wherever it is applied,” he said.

He said his government was very careful not to cut across or interfere with the sensitive process but would be advised by DFAT and others if his government could be of use.

Mr Andrews said many countries with strong trading ties had some policies the government did not necessarily agree with, including the United States and many Southeast Asian countries.

“You don’t have to agree with everything in order to have a partnership,” he said.

He said the agreements were about trade and jobs and there were other forums, platforms and ways to raise issues of human rights.

“We don’t agree with everything that China stands for, every policy China makes or every position China takes. What we’re about is growing jobs, ”he said.

“What we’re about is making sure more Victorian products than ever before gets sent to China.”

Mr Andrews said that trade and those jobs were more important than ever in the global pandemic.

“We don’t engage in foreign policy, we engage in trade and jobs policy,” he said.

He said there was no inconsistency between his position and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.