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Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has come under scrutiny for refusing to release the speaking notes for his speech at a secretive Chinese forum, an event Australian journalists were reportedly barred from.

The Premier delivered the speech on behalf of Victoria at the Post Pandemic China-Australia Economic Cooperation Forum — but the media has been denied access to the contents of it.

Reporters fromThe Herald Sun attempted to attend the forum but were turned away. It reported that only Chinese media were allowed to participate.

Signs at the venue also prohibited photography and videography during the event.

When questioned about the lack of transparency, Premier Andrews claimed that he did not refer to the provided notes during his speech, rendering their release unnecessary.

“I didn’t use notes. I spoke off the cuffs. It’s often my practice, to the enduring frustration of my staff, I didn’t necessarily refer to them,” he said.

“I didn’t use them, so what purpose would that serve (to release them).”

He also said he was unaware of the media ban and shifted responsibility to the event organisers for issues related to attendance.

“I didn’t organise the event. I didn’t invite anyone to the event. I didn’t prevent anyone from going to the event,” he said.

“If you have a challenge or a problem or issues in relation to the event, then the event organisers would be the logical place to go ... about who was invited in and who wasn’t.”

Andrews said he was merely strengthening relations with his state’s “biggest customer”.

“It was an important event,” he said.

“I certainly made the point that the China and Victoria partnership is critically important to jobs, to exports, to international education, to food and wine and every sector really.

“They are our biggest trading partner. If you’ve got a bad relationship with your biggest customer, your business has got real problems.”

Opposition Leader John Pesutto criticised the secrecy, asserting that speeches made by political leaders should not be delivered in secret, as they represent the people.

“This is not IBAC where he gets to make his comments in secret. These are speeches that he’s making on behalf of the Victorian people,” he said.

“No political leader, whether it’s Daniel Andrews or myself, should expect to be able to give speeches in secret.

“It’s just not the way we operate in Victoria.”

Victorian Liberal MP James Paterson also raised concerns about one of the forum’s sponsors, the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS), claiming it to be a front group for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), the country’s top spy agency.

Senator Paterson described the Premier’s decision to give a speech while barring media access as highly irregular and inappropriate. He questioned the motives behind the secrecy, wondering what Premier Andrews might be concealing.

In contrast, Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp shared her speech in its entirety and emphasised the importance of the forum for future commercial opportunities and strengthening ties with China.

Mayor Capp highlighted Melbourne’s close connections with China, including sister-city relationships with Tianjin and strategic partnerships with other Chinese cities.

She praised the achievements in education, culture, business, trade, and people-to-people exchange resulting from these connections. Mayor Capp also acknowledged the significant impact of the reopening of China on Melbourne, with the potential to bring investment, jobs, and trade opportunities to the city.

“Needless to say, the City of Melbourne values our Chinese community who helped build and continue to work with us to shape this city in many wonderful ways,” Ms Capp said.

“I want to thank the China Chamber of Commerce Australia for playing an important role in supporting Chinese enterprises in Australia, particularly in Melbourne.”

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