Labor MP Michael Danby slams Victoria’s decision to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Labor MP Michael Danby has spoken out against Victoria’s decision to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Michael Danby. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Labor MP Michael Danby has spoken out against Victoria’s decision to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative, calling Beijing’s global infrastructure program a “strategic package” that no Australian government should join.

Mr Danby, the outgoing member for Melbourne Ports, was the first Labor MP to publicly criticise Mr Andrews’ decision, after three different Labor MPs anonymously told The Australian they were alarmed the Andrews government had decided to break ranks with federal Labor to back the controversial initiative.

Mr Danby also issued concern the Victorian government would not release details of the memorandum of understanding it signed with China last month.

“I don’t agree with this if it has indeed happened,” Mr Danby told Sky News.

“One Belt One Road is not simply an economic package to engage this part of the world or indeed all of the region from Asia to Europe, it is a strategic package.

“I therefore think that we need to think of it in terms of how they are trying to leverage poor countries in the South Pacific, we shouldn't give any credence to that.”

Mr Danby said he backed federal Labor’s position to consider each BRI project on its merits, which is the same position as the government’s.

“Signing strategic pacts is not a good idea, and also one state being split off by the rest of us is not a good idea,” Mr Danby said.

“I think that all governments should be open and transparent on these arrangements with pother countries.”

Scott Morrison, Josh Frydenberg and Defence Minister Christopher Pyne today issued concern Victoria had joined the BRI and urged the Andrews government to make the MOU public.

“He should be upfront with the Victorian electors, he’s in the middle of an election at the moment. He doesn’t seem to have even explained it to his own Labor colleagues. I mean, foreign policy is the domain of the commonwealth government,” The Prime Minister told 2GB radio.

“We’ve always had a very consistent position on this and we’ve always been clear about it and when these things happen, then that creates mixed messages and it would have been helpful I think is they had been a bit more engaging on that.”

Opposition Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen defended Victoria’s decision to join the BRI, despite it being against federal Labor policy.

“I think that it is completely understandable that state governments try and forge deeper and closer economic relations,” Mr Bowen said.

He also attacked the government for being split on the issue, after Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Trade Minister Simon Birmingham welcomed Victoria joining the BRI.

“I mean I’m not sure of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister are talking with each other,” he said.

Mr Andrews said he was “relentlessly optimistic” the deal would create jobs in Victoria.

He said there was nothing unusual about keeping the details of an MOU confidential.

“The longstanding protocol is that these matters are not made public and I think that there might even be some agreements that the federal government has signed up to that have been similarly treated,” Mr Andrews said.

Former Labor defence minister Stephen Conroy — who remains influential in the Victorian Right — last night told Sky News he was “surprised” by the deal and it should not be kept secret.

“China is playing Australia on a break at the moment,” he said. “It likes to punish, likes to reward, it likes to play favourites. And it is playing people off each other.”

Mr Conroy said the MOU ­allowed for Victorian companies to bid for work when China undertakes infrastructure projects in the region.