Security concerns raised over planned China junket for Victorian MPs

Victorian Labor MPs are planning a 10-day China junket which a federal opposition senator says they “need to rethink”.

The September trip will involve learning more about Chinese culture and gathering “three years’ worth of social media content”. MP Will Fowles is organising the study tour and says it’s “not a government trip”.

Acting federal opposition spokesperson for foreign affairs James Paterson says the trip should be cancelled if it’s not endorsed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and supported by the Australian Embassy in Beijing.

Press PLAY below to hear why Senator Patterson thinks the MPs should “rethink” the trip

“China is not the sort of destination to engage in an amateur political junket,” Mr Paterson told Jimmy Bartel and Mark Allen, filling in for Ross and Russel.

“I really think these MPs need to rethink their plan.”