Daniel Andrews’ great wall of China secrecy

Daniel Andrews has launched his secretive tour of China without releasing a single detail of what he discussed at meetings with three Chinese officials.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 2020.

Daniel Andrews has launched his secretive tour of China without releasing a single detail of what he discussed on behalf of Victorian taxpayers at meetings with three Chinese officials.

The Victorian Premier shrugged off criticism over a lack of transparency about the four-day mission in an official statement that only named the Beijing bureaucrats he met on Tuesday.

Opposition trade and investment spokesman David Southwick accused the Premier of keeping taxpayers in the dark about the purpose of his seventh official trip to China since 2014.

‘‘This is more secrecy from a trip already riddled with question marks,’’ Mr Southwick said.

“Daniel Andrews needs to be upfront about the purpose, goals and benefits of this trip to the Victorian community.”

In a one-page statement, Mr Andrews’ office revealed the Premier held talks with Li Xukui, vice-president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. He also met Huai Jinpeng, the Minister for Education, and Ying Young, the Mayor of Beijing.

Before leaving for China, Mr Andrews said the primary purpose of his trip, announced just two days before he flew out, was to attract Chinese students to Victoria but he didn’t rule out discussing broader economic issues.

The mission is essentially a one-man trip as no university vice-chancellors or education business leaders have been invited to join the Premier, which has been described as unusual by key players in the industry. The Premier is being accompanied only by the secretary of the ­Department of Premier and Cabinet and two members of his ­private office.

One education industry figure questioned how effective the trip would be without the leaders of the Victorian higher education institutions where the Chinese students would be studying. ‘‘It’s unclear what he can achieve on his own,’’ one industry figure said.

There are 42,000 Chinese students in Victoria and Mr Andrews has set a target of increasing this to at least 62,000. More than 53,000 Indian students are also studying in ­Victoria.

Mr Andrews’ mission stands in stark contrast to the Albanese government’s four-day education delegation to India from February 28 to March 3. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare led a delegation ­including 21 university vice-­chancellors. Former Test cricketer Adam Gilchrist, who is a global ambassador for the University of Wollongong, also ­attended the trade mission.

A delegation handbook provided details of dozens of meetings between the Australian and Indian officials and education ­industry figures. ‘‘Objectives of the visit. The Australian government is prioritising its relationship with India and this visit is an opportunity to further strengthen Australia and India ties,’’ it states.

‘‘Australian universities are world class in teaching and ­research and are keen to deepen already strong ties with Indian ­institutions. Australia is committed to two-way student mobility with India.’’