A foreign agreements 'veto' bill looks set to pass Federal Parliament, again spotlighting Canberra's distrust of China.
It will give the Commonwealth power over deals struck by states, councils and universities, a move sparked by Victoria signing on to Beijing's signature foreign policy initiative.
There is a perky children's song with lyrics "the belt connects the land … the road moves on the sea".
The song is state-based propaganda for China's multi-trillion-dollar building plan to connect Asia and Europe by land and sea, with spurs into Africa and the Indo-Pacific, which some defence experts warn is a giant strategic threat.
The federal Coalition and Labor have ruled out joining this chorus.
"We have said we would not sign up to the BRI," Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the ABC's Insiders program.
But Victoria did.
"We have many, many MoUs [memorandums of understanding] with hospitals, with universities, with research institutes, with provincial governments and with the Central Government," Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters today.
With Canberra locked in a bitter struggle with Beijing, the Commonwealth wants to assert its Constitutional right over foreign affairs with a new law to give it veto power over any deal struck between any foreign Government and councils, states or institutions here.
It would give it the right to tear up Victoria's Belt and Road agreement.
"That's entirely a matter for the Federal Parliament," Mr Andrews said.
Ms Wong said: "We support the objectives and we've supported the legislation."
Federal Labor has picked a small fight, backing an amendment allowing for a judicial review of any veto. But the bill is likely to pass tomorrow, without change.
9News Political Editor Chris Uhlmann believes the Morrison Government won't publicly tear up Victoria's Belt and Road agreement, but quietly bury it as Canberra tries to calm the stormy relationship with Beijing.
"Now that the minister has the power, it's time for sensible discussions with the Victorian Government," Ms Wong said.
"I think we all understand that China has a very different view about what it wants from Australia than what we are prepared to give, regardless of who is in government."
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