Dud deal given the flick
EVERYONE but Daniel Andrews and his Labor Government has always known the Belt and Road (BRI) deal with the Chinese Communist Government was bad for Victorian jobs and businesses.
After looking at the detail, the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government has done what Daniel Andrews should have done long ago – given this dud deal the flick.
Even Federal Labor agreed, with one MP repeating again this week “we wouldn’t have signed the arrangements either if we were in government”.
So why did Daniel Andrews go against official advice from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by signing onto this dud deal?
It’s not hard to see why BRI wasn’t in Victoria’s – or the nation’s – interests. BRI is the Chinese Communist Government’s major global infrastructure strategy, which aims to expand the nation’s interests in projects across the world.
Under Belt and Road, Daniel Andrews has given away multi-billion-dollar infrastructure contracts to Chinese-owned companies. They’re building the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel, the Metro Tunnel, they’re building our high-capacity trains.
In return, the Chinese Communist Government has smashed our farmers with tariffs on barley, imposed import bans on lobster and timber products and they’ve smashed our wine exporters with trade sanctions.
It’s no wonder the Federal Government has determined BRI is “inconsistent with Australia’s foreign policy”.
Daniel Andrews should remember he’s the Premier for Victorians – not the Chinese Communist Government.
Unlike Labor, the Liberal Nationals will always put Victorian families, workers, businesses and communities first.
Peter Walsh,
Leader of The Nationals
