Belt and Road advisory board was stacked with people linked to CCP

The board of an Australian and Victorian government funded Belt and Road foundation was stacked with advisers with high-profile links to the Chinese Communist Party.

The list of advisers, which includes members of China's Treasury, spearheaded lobbying of the Victorian government before it became the only Australian state to sign up to the multinational infrastructure initiative.

Premier Daniel Andrews signed on to the package in 2018 and in May declared it "was more important than ever" to stimulate Victoria's post-coronavirus economy.

The move, which will allow for Chinese investment in Victoria and for Victorian companies to participate in Chinese government projects overseas, has angered federal cabinet ministers who hold national security concerns over the deal as China becomes increasingly assertive in its pandemic diplomacy.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton on Thursday accused Mr Andrews of a lack of transparency and of using his relationship with China to advance his own political agenda.

"I would have thought sunlight is a good thing here, but for whatever reason he decides to conduct all of this business in secret, and I just don't think it is in the national interest," he said.

The board members listed on a now-removed website include corporate governance expert Li Wei An, who receives a special government allowance from the Chinese State Council, Liu Jian Xing, a director at China's National Development and Reform Commission, and Shuaihua Wallace Cheng, an economist at the Shanghai Municipal Government Development Research Centre. It is common for academics and high-profile business people in China to be associated with the government.

The organisation received $36,850 to provide advice to the Victorian government in 2017-18 and 2019-20 and $20,000 from the federal government in 2016.

The 33-year-old founder of the Victorian-based Australia-China Belt and Road Initiative, Jean Dong, declined a request for an interview. Ms Dong and her fellow director Peter Collins, a genetic variation specialist and science film festival organiser, also recruited Australian corporate heavyweights including BHP Director Malcolm Broomhead, former trade minister Andrew Robb and Paul Cooper, the Chairman of Norman Disney and Young to the board.

Ms Dong, then aged in her 20s, said she played key roles in establishing relations between Tasmania and China and witnessed the signing of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement after leaving her role as a state media news anchor in China.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/belt-and-road-advisory-board-was-stacked...

Love your toons, Capt.

John, do you think a foreign investment by a CCP backed company should be viewed the same way as a similar investment from a country like NZ?

John Smith wrote on May 29^th, 2020 at 4:42pm:



Australia is still capable of sending a gumboot!

If china becomes an enemy belligerent, we confiscate all their dough and assets, and vet their people living here....the good ones could become part of the new 'Go For Broke' regiment...

The_Barnacle wrote on May 29^th, 2020 at 5:19pm:



they are great friends of the Labor Party.....at this point in time China is threatening us with huge Tariffs..and taking its business elsewhere .. for the simple reason Australia asked for an investigation into the pandemic which has affected the whole world....


imagine if we do something really violent to them....   this is what this country does....

what has he signed up for... $24billion....

which I guess he will be paying back with aussie dollars..

taken from aussie taxpayers.....oh well... its all good I dont live in Victoria.

The_Barnacle wrote on May 29^th, 2020 at 5:19pm:



Embargoes tend to do that....

Pig Iron Scotty!!      

How history runs in circles...

Gnads wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:25am:



what part of the deal was that exactly? or did you just make it up again?

Gnads wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:25am:


and? Who gives a crap where he borrows the money from. What are the chinese going to do? reposses their road?

Gnads wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:25am:


it's a phrase you use when you pretend you know what you're on about

Gnads wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:25am:

it's nothing like that

Gnads wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:25am:


tender processes are to bid for the cheapest price to build the infrastructure ... when you have someone willing to build it for free,what purpose does the tender process serve exactly?

Gnads wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:25am:


the agreement is for specific projects.

Gnads wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:25am:


you should relax more

We have a tender process ...... that would go out the door as well


tender processes are to bid for the cheapest price to build the infrastructure ... when you have someone willing to build it for free,what purpose does the tender process serve exactly?


since when will it be FREE?

John Smith wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:43am:




how?  and more to the point WHY?

John Smith wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:49am:





you didnt say WHY they would do this for free though


you do understand by doing this in 3rd world countries they buy that countries loyalty dont you????..

they also take over their "investments" if the country defaults......they have at least taken over two ports in two countries  that have defaulted....and now run them as they would their own in CHina....

cods wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:54am:


rubbish. They can't buy the countries loyalties. it's a myth. They've been heavily investing in Australia for well over a decade and yet we were the first to call for an inquiry into china role with covid. What happened to buying Australias loyalty there?

John Smith wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 11:00am:



really they all have votes when it comes to dealing with China and the WHO /Human rights.../ the UN....

those investments have all been independent this is the CHINESE GOVT....   when we sell something to the chinese we have limits on it.... we can also expel individuals...

try doing that with the  CCP..

have you seen their revenge for us speaking up about covids?????????????????

John Smith wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:34am:


Nothing is for free .... or  did you just make that up? 

John Smith wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 10:49am:


Hong Kong is as good as China ... 5.7 % all up

Andrews is a dictator.
He is now fining employers $10000 from Monday if they
require people working from home to return to the workplace.
He is seeking employees to dob in their bosses.
He wants them all to stay at home.
This is wrong....
This is a dictatorship....

billy the kid wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 12:55pm:


This is public health measures.  Such a silly Billy. 

billy the kid wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 4:42pm:


Could it be that it was because your post was the most stupid?  Nah, that couldn't have been it, could it? Billy all you do is whinge, you don't offer any solutions to the problems you've identified.   I thought you'd confine yourself to Polaranimal but it appears not.   Black Orchid likes your bullshit.  I don't.  Run along little boy, back to your playground.  Tsk, tsk.   

Brian Ross wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 5:33pm:

Have you seen a specialist about your aspergers...moron..

Dan donates tax money to build Mosques in country Vic, what sort of Australian is this person., a Chinese cock sucking Muslim hunchback poofter would sum him up.

The belts and roads Chinese cock sucking Dan is out of step with the general community.

Dan needs an operation on his spine and some mental therapy.

John Smith wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 12:42pm:

Increase the superannuation guarantee to 12% and allow super funds to make these investments more easily.

Bam wrote on Jun 1^st, 2020 at 9:34am:



I bet it'll get very quite here now 

Gnads wrote on Jun 1^st, 2020 at 9:59am:



the groundwork for Dan was set by Nathine and Ballieu ... your point??

billy the kid wrote on May 30^th, 2020 at 9:47pm:


Oh, dearie, dearie, me.  I do not have Aspergers nor do I have Autism. You however appear to be a typical bully - completely unable to handle criticism, so you resort to personal abuse.   So childish, so silly. 

Brian Ross wrote on Jun 1^st, 2020 at 2:04pm:

Youre a f...idiot...
You send me a private message suggesting that Gordon and I are one and the same person, and you come on here suggesting that I am a typical bully....
Don't send me any more private messages f..wit……
Youre a moron...always have been ...always will be...
Go and see your shrink boofhead….

Gnads wrote on Jun 1^st, 2020 at 2:04pm:


just trying to work out what keating has to do with anything. You mentioned him and I was hoping you had some point to make but it looks like it was just your typical deflective rambling

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jun 1^st, 2020 at 4:25pm:



Since that time we had the libs in got for over 18 out of 24 yrs. When do they take responsibility for their action / inaction?

John Smith wrote on Jun 1^st, 2020 at 4:48pm:


I'm merely pointing out when the rot began, as per the question raised.... it started with Hawke and the Government Of Wrecking A Silly Nation... emasculated the Unions and thus made the ordinary person vulnerable to despotism... typical bloody Ultra-Socialist...

The LNP may seek to rule by Divine Right and as an Entitlement™ - Labor want to rule like Stalin.. and no bloody Trotsky-ites from the Unions and the common herd, thanks... you can't have a consensus of the people running the show.... how would a government function at all?

All traitors to their own... and slaves to their own wallets....

John Smith wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2020 at 10:04am:


Try keeping up... not going to explain it all to you over and over.  Your personal choice of being obtuse is your problem.  I've stated the simple truths here time and again - get it into your head.

Brian Ross wrote on Jun 1^st, 2020 at 8:34pm:



Weally, Aunty Bwian?? Not allowed? Coz Aunty Bwin will be cwoss?

Frank wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2020 at 3:44pm:


No, 'cause the Forum Rules say you aren't, Soren. 

Frank wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2020 at 4:11pm:

A fool such as bwian could quite easily ascertain if Gordon and I were one and the same person by approaching the appropriate moderator and simply asking to confirm or deny. Instead bwian, in his usual condescending, arrogant, supercilious manner prefers to troll me as he enjoys being a troll.
Bwian and I go back a bit on another forum where I had the audacity to post negative comments about islam. As
this offended bwian, he simply took it upon himself to constantly berate me, telling me that he has many muslim friends and they are all good people.
Needless to say the thread I created was about islam...not muslims….
But bwian, suffering badly from aspergers syndrome, just loves to argue about everything and anything....

John Smith wrote on Jun 1^st, 2020 at 3:27pm:


He was pushing the Chinese trade & investment barrow ........ long before any of our recent or current crop of LNP or ALP pollies.

Don't you accuse anyone of deflective rambling you hypocrite.

Frank wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2020 at 4:11pm:


I have changed your highlighting to express the section I was referring to, Soren.  Amazing that you'd miss it.  Must be something in your antipathy towards me. 

Brian Ross wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2020 at 8:52pm:

You are an idiot, Bwian. Nothing personal. You just are, an uncomprehending idiot.
Your accusing someone of being a sock is not personal information about you, fool.

I thought you were two-plank thick. Up that to four planks.