In short:
Victoria has revealed it spent $232,630 on Premier Jacinta Allan’s seven-day China trip in September, covering travel for the Premier, seven staff and Point Cook MP Mathew Hilakari. The disclosure has renewed debate over overseas travel by politicians during a cost-of-living crisis and record state debt.
Critics Label China Trip A Junket
Victorian taxpayers have been billed $232,630.37 for Premier Jacinta Allan’s seven-day trip to China, with the full cost of the September visit now revealed.
The expenses cover official travel from 14–20 September 2024, during which the Premier visited Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Chengdu and Deyang.
According to the disclosure, airfares totalled $173,337.56, accommodation cost $26,692.13, and other expenses — including surface travel and allowances — came to $32,600.68. The government confirmed the figures are final and complete.
The Premier was accompanied by seven staff members, along with Point Cook MP Mathew Hilakari, who joined the delegation as part of the official program.
The trip has attracted criticism, with some labelling it a junket at a time when Victorians are grappling with a cost-of-living crisis and record state debt. Overseas travel by senior politicians has increasingly come under scrutiny as households face rising rents, mortgages and everyday expenses.
The government has defended the visit, saying it was focused on strengthening government-to-government and industry partnerships with Victoria’s largest two-way trading partner.
Key objectives included positioning Victoria as a preferred supplier of safe, healthy and premium agricultural products, improving understanding of China’s market and regulatory environment, and lifting export readiness across the agribusiness sector.
The trip also aimed to support innovative partnerships between Victorian and Chinese businesses and institutions in agricultural technology and sustainable practices, while promoting research collaboration and commercialisation pathways, particularly in health and medical research.
Tourism, education and business engagement formed a major part of the agenda, including promoting Victoria as a safe and welcoming destination for international students, supporting transnational education programs, strengthening TAFE links, and boosting tourism promotion and air connectivity between Victoria and China.
While the government argues the visit delivers long-term economic and diplomatic benefits, the six-figure price tag is likely to remain a flashpoint as pressure mounts on household budgets across Victoria.
