Strange things are happening nowadays in Australia. More specifically in Victoria. According to The Age, 'The Andrews government will keep secret a deal it signed with Beijing aimed at fostering China’s government involvement in Victorian infrastructure projects'.

The pressure is mounting on the Victorian government to backtrack from the agreement it signed in 2017 with China for Victorian infrastructure projects including $50 Billion Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop (SRL).

The newspaper has asked, using the freedom of information legislation, Andrews government to disclose the details of the agreement but rejected on the grounds that it contained information Chinese disclosed with the expectation of confidentiality.

There are growing concerns about Chinese companies in domination positions in large Australian projects.

Reportedly, John Holland, a company owned 100% by China's CCCC, is among the companies shortlisted for the Suburban Rail Loop. The company is involved in large infrastructure projects like the Melbourne Metro and the West Gate project (Yes! John Holland is one of the two contractors in that drama project, along with Spanish CPB Contractors).

Even more, reportedly, John Holland is one of the companies shortlisted for the Suburban Rail Loop project. Victoria's government had opened the EOI (Expressions of Interest) for the Initial and Early Works package of Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop project around 6 months ago. According to the government, the Suburban Rail Loop project is the biggest transformation of public transport in Australian history – a new underground rail network circling Melbourne’s suburbs. The Suburban Rail Loop will connect every major train line from the Frankston line all the way to the Werribee line through Melbourne Airport, with up to 12 new underground stations.

credit for image Victorian government