Peter Dutton Joins Chorus of Aussie MPs Questioning Victorias Belt and Road Commitment

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is the latest federal member of Parliament to criticise the Victorian state government for its commitment to Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In an interview with 2GB radio on May 21, Dutton said the BRI was a “propaganda exercise from China” and the Victorian government needed to show a “greater level of transparency” around the details of the agreement with Beijing.

Currently, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has signed two agreements with the Chinese regimes National Development and Reform Commission.

Federal politicians have criticised these agreements for being light on detail.

“Its good to have investment from all over the world, including China, but it needs to be done in the appropriate way with the safeguards,” said Dutton.

“The values of the communist regime are not compatible with ours, but we arent going to compromise on our values and beliefs, and the Prime Ministers right to point that out,” he said referring to the federal governments push to investigate the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

Dutton was careful to distinguish between the Chinese communist regime and Chinese Australians, the latter he said has made a “wonderful contribution to this country.”

Duttons comments follow Victorian Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching, who wrote on Twitter on May 20: “I think the Vic govt erred in signing up to “Belt & Road” initiative which has involved loans of US$350 billion (many to countries that wont be able to repay). Equally, its time Morrison govt released its secret Belt & Road agreement with China.”

I think the Vic govt erred in signing up to “Belt & Road” initiative which has involved loans of US$350 billion (many to countries that wont be able to repay).

Equally, its time Morrison govt released its secret Belt & Road agreement with China #auspolhttps://t.co/KHzOMV7gLr

— Kimberley Kitching (@kimbakit) May 20, 2020

Last month on April 30, Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson called on Victorias premier to withdraw from the BRI in light of the Chinese regimes handling of the virus outbreak.

Henderson said the BRI was not in Australias “national interest.”

“Chinas Belt and Road Initiative is the wrong road for Victoria,” she said in a press release.

First announced in 2013 by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, tRead More – Source