Andrews still sucking up to Communist Chinese Government despite new trade blockade

Labor and a number of crossbenchers have voted against protecting Victorian exports.

The motion by the Liberal Nationals to protect Victorian exports was voted down in Parliament this afternoon.

The motion read:

That this House —

1. notes —

• the unjustified and provocative actions of the Chinese Communist Government in blocking access to Victorian exports, including barley, wine, beef and lobster;
• that these actions by the Chinese Communist Government are not consistent with World Trade Organisation rules and do not honour the commitments made by China under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement;
• the memorandum of understanding between the Victorian Government and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 8 October 2018, referred to as the Belt and Road Initiative;
• the framework agreement between the Victorian Government and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 23 October 2019, in particular article 1, cooperation principles, which have been ignored by the Chinese Communist Government;

1. calls on the Andrews Labor Government to —

• request that the Chinese Communist Government reverse its trade blockades of Victorian produce; and
• rebuke the Chinese Communist Government over its deliberate and damaging actions.

Labor and its crossbench toadies, Hinch Party members Stuart Grimley and Tania Maxwell, Animal Justice Party member Andy Meddick, Greens political party member Samantha Ratnam and Sustainability Australia Party member Clifford Hayes, today chose not to rebuke the Chinese Communist Government over its deliberate and damaging actions, or to even request a reversal of its trade blockades of Victorian produce.

This was an opportunity for the Parliament and the Andrews Labor Government to stand up for Victorian exporters.

Daniel Andrews needs to decide whose side he is on, Victorian farmers or the Chinese Communist Government that is imposing these outrageous restrictions. 

Comments attributable to the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, David Davis:

“All the Labor and crossbench MPs who voted against this motion have let down Victorian farmers and exporters.

“Daniel Andrews refuses even to invoke the dispute resolution processes embedded in the dodgy Belt and Road deal he signed with the Chinese Communist Government.

“Victorian farmers should not have their produce stopped by a provocative blockade by the Chinese Communist Party.”