Pauline Hanson Rips Into Victorian Premier Over Deal With China

[/news/pauline-hanson/index.html Pauline Hanson] has furiously ripped into Victorian premier Daniel Andrews after he signed a deal with [/news/china/index.html China] to expand infrastructure in the state.
Victoria agreed to the deal with Beijing as part of the country's $1.4trillion Belt and tour Lệ Giang giá rẻ Road initiative - which invests in projects in dozens of countries across the world.
While the plan is promoted as mutually beneficial to the development of trade in Europe and Asia, detractors have accused Victoria of undermining the federal government's recent criticism of China.
The One Nation leader accused Mr Andrews of signing a 'secretive agreement' with China while his state is about $50million in debt.
'The Chinese will actually bring out their own workers - it is not in Victoria's best interest,' she told [ ].
'Once Daniel Andrews is gone they're going to have a hell of a debt they can't pay back.
'If interest rates start increasing and China doesn't get back its money back will they take over the assets?

It's bloody madness to do this.' 
RELATED ARTICLES [# Previous] [# 1] [# Next] [/news/article-8356691/China-blames-Australia-trade-tensions-lashes-Peter-Dutton.html China blames Australia for trade tensions and lashes out at...] [/news/article-8356337/Australias-largest-organic-dairy-company-collapses-15million-mountain-debt.html Australia's largest organic dairy company collapses under a...]



Share this article
Share


Ms Hanson said she believed the Victorian premier was being duped by the Chinese government.
'People need to steer clear of China... Daniel Andrews I'll tell you now you're a b****y idiot if you head down this path,' she said. 
The outspoken senator tour Lệ Giang giá rẻ cited how Beijing had previously seized a port in Sri Lanka after the country struggled to pay its creditors back for the project.
Mr Andrews is pictured in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

He has signed a deal with China to expand infrastructure in the state    
'You have to look at what China has done to other countries,' Ms Hanson said.
'They're trying to infiltrate Papua New Guinea, they've done it [a Belt and Road] deal in China - they want countries to be beholden to them.'
Mr Dutton has declared Victoria's Belt and Road Initiative with China meanwhile 'a propaganda initiative' from Beijing which would bring an 'enormous amount of foreign interference'. 
One Nation senator Pauline Hanson has accused Mr Andrews of being duped when he signed the 'secretive agreement' while his government is about $50million in debt
The escalating war of words between the two nations comes as a new poll released Tuesday showed the majority of Australians want their government to stand up to China.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijiang appeared to refer to Mr Dutton's remarks during a fiery press briefing in Beijing.
'The groundless accusations made by some Australian politicians are totally untenable,' Mr Zhao said.
'They only expose their negligence of the Australian people's interests and their sinister intentions of damaging China-Australia relations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping pictured at a parade in Tiananmen Square in 2019.

Australia and China are engaged in a bitter war of words over trade and the COVID-19 crisis
Ms Hanson (pictured in March) said Beijing had previously seized a port in Sri Lanka after the country struggled to pay its creditors back for the project
'The successful cooperation between China and the Australian state of Victoria under the BRI framework was determined and implemented by the two sides through friendly consultation with a view to improve the well-being of the people.'  
Also on Tuesday Trade Minister Simon Birmingham dismissed claims made by his Chinese counterpart about prohibitive tariffs slapped on Australian barley. 
The Chinese commerce minister linked hefty tariffs on Australian barley to past disputes between the two nations, comparing track records on trade investigations.
Zhong Shan said China had been cautious and restrained in imposing trade remedies, and had only launched one trade investigation against Australia in almost 50 years, compared to more than 100 by Australia.