- Target:
- Premier of Victoria
- Region:
- Australia
- Website:
- www.victoriaforward.org.au
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a foreign policy and economic strategy by the Chinese Communist Party, aimed at increasing Chinese influence and control over key infrastructure globally.
The deal has been described as promoting China's 'debt-trap diplomacy', a tactic where wealthy nations use major investment to lure other nations into debt. Thereby, leaving them vulnerable to diplomatic and economic leverage.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews became the only Australian Premier to sign onto the BRI on October 8th 2018.
The Victorian Government, under Premier Andrews, signed onto the deal without consulting the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and in contravention of national security advice. The decision to sign the agreement been described as 'flagrantly reckless' by the Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute Peter Jennings, and has received criticism from experts globally.
Premier Andrews has also jeopardised Australia's international relationships by signing on to China's debt-trap deal, with the United States suggesting they may need to 'disconnect' from Australia due to security concerns.
Despite this criticism and international security warnings, Premier Andrews has pushed ahead with the deal, which endangers the future of Victoria and the security of Victorians.
We, the undersigned, call on Daniel Andrews MP, Premier of Victoria, to immediately withdraw from the:
"Memorandum of Understanding between The Government of the State of Victoria of Australia and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China on Cooperation within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative" signed on October 8th 2018,
and the:
"Framework Agreement between The Government of the State of Victoria of Australia and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China on Jointly Promoting the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road" signed on October 23rd 2018.
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The End the Belt and Road Initiative in Victoria petition to Premier of Victoria was written by Victoria Forward and is in the category International Affairs at GoPetition.