Documents obtained through FOI show that Premier Daniel Andrews directly courted some of China’s biggest Belt and Road companies, including one blacklisted by the US, to take part in his building intentions.

Despite the attitude of the Federal Government, and it’s refusal to be involved in the BRI (considered to be a foreign policy matter), Andrews signed a deal with Chinese dictatorship ‘s BRI in October 2019. He promised to “facilitate their access to Victoria”, which he said would become “CHINA’S GATEWAY TO AUSTRALIA”.

Even the federal Labor Opposition has rejected the idea of signing up to the BRI, while their Victorian colleague thinks that “a strong relationship and a strong partnership (with Communist China) is VERY, VERY IMPORTANT”. Andrews has made six trips to China since he has been Premier; one of the “important” Chinese companies he wants to deal with was involved in the illegal construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea.

A NATO security and economic committee recently warned that, “There should be no mistake that elements of the BRI and China’s related foreign policies pose a challenge to Western values.

It seems that Daniel Andrews is not concerned about those Western values. And, perhaps, he is banking on the Communist Chinese money (considered to be a ‘debt trap’ in Third World countries that have fallen for the BRI) to get him out of the appalling mess he has made of the Victorian economy with his dictatorial lockdowns and assaults on citizens’ freedoms and work opportunities.

According to an article by Phillip Cooney in
The Australian Financial Review, August 27th 2020.
The Morrison Government plans to terminate agreements
with foreign powers which specifically target China.

Cooney tells us that "sources have confirmed that
Victoria's memorandum of understanding over China's
Belt and Road Initiative will be one of the first
to be terminated under the new powers".

We're also told that "Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews
has slammed the Morrison's government plans saying the
move will further hamper his state's economic recovery.
However Mr Andrews is isolated with no support for his
position from fellow premiers and federal Labor".

Cooney also confirms that universities are also dismayed
"after being "blind-sided" by the proposed laws which
sources said spell the end of Chinese-Government funded
study centres such as the Confucius Institute which operate
in 13 Australian universities".

Cooney writes that "The government has released a list of
130 contracts, memorandums of understanding and co-operative
arrangements between foreign powers and state governments,
local councils and universities which will be reviewed
under new national security laws aimed at curbing Chinese
infiltration".

"They will be cancelled if their intent is deemed to be more
than just financial".

"It's a pretty clear test. If they're inconsistant with
federal foreign policy, they'll go!" Prime Minister Scott
Morrison said.

"Where any foreign government seeks to undermine the
sovereignty of Australia's foreign policy by seeking to
deal with sub-national governments Australia needs to
protect itself from that".

Of the 130 arrangements 48 we're told are with the Chinese
Government or government bodies.

Federal Labor Leader Anthony Albanese said the Opposition
would pass the legislation which will use the external
affairs powers under the Constitution and apply a national
security test to existing and new arrangements.

Mr Albanese offered Daniel Andrews no support over the
Blet and Road Initiative which Australia and its allies
regard as a vehicle to extend Chinese influence in the
region and the world by funding large infrastructure
projects.

"I have expressed it publicly that the government I lead
would not participate in the scheme", Mr Albanese said.

cont'd ...

Here's the link from The Australian Financial Review:

http://www.afr.com/politics/federal/daniel-andrews-hits-back-on-china-20200827-p55pq9

Foxy and ttbn,

I hope you two aren't engaging in China bashing.

It's racist to say things against the Chinese. I hope you're fully aware of this.

There are a lot of Chinese in Australia who will be very unhappy if Morrison tries to keep the Chinese out of Australia.

Remember, it was China that made Australia what it is during the Great Asianizatiod Period (1980-2020) in Australian history.

You two should be ashamed of yourselves. Now, say 20 'Hail Xi' and tap your head 20 times on the ground in front of Xi's effigy and ask for forgiveness.

The proposed legislation might be the answer to the BRI threat, but we have yet to see how serious the government is. We don't have a leader known for action, but it is good that the Opposition would support the legislation.

I also believe that a long, hard look needs to be cast over system of government. Matters touching on foreign policy should not be hijacked by state premiers. While I have no time at all for our lazy, stand-for-nothing Prime Minister, there is nothing that he can do about the current situation without big changes. I have never been one for power centralised in Canberra. However the state premiers seem to be pushing too many boundaries now.