"I don't think ripping up agreements resets anything. I think it might make a very challenging set of circumstances for farmers, for workers, for businesses, for every Victorian much, much harder," he said. "There's no getting around it – whether you like it or not, this is our biggest customer."Mr Andrews said a poor relationship with China would require a shift to new markets, which could take years and cost jobs in the meantime.
Mr Andrews defended the Belt and Road memorandum of understanding, signed in 2018, as a symbol of goodwill on infrastructure and exports. He said Victorian exporters, particularly farmers, had conveyed "palpable" concern in his discussions with them. Every premier and chief minister will meet with Mr Morrison at the first in-person national cabinet since March in Canberra on Friday, and Mr Andrews said it was possible Australia's relationship with China would be raised.
"Who knows what the result of the federal legislation will be, but China has made it clear that anything acting against their interest,. I don't think you'd get a positive outcome from it. But equally I haven't seen what benefits Victoria has got from the agreement."
Is our government really that naive and stupid