Dan Andrew’s is blasted by Dr Nick Coatsworth as he jets off to China

Victoria Premier Dan Andrews has been slammed for double standards over ignoring the Chinese detention of an Australian mother-of-two as he jets off to Beijing.

Mr Andrews flew out on his seventh trip to China on Monday night – the first by an Australian premier since 2019 – for a series of meetings with Chinese officials.

But Dr Nick Coatsworth has criticised the Labor leader for snubbing the plight of Melbourne mum Cheng Lei who was seized by the Chinese two and a half years ago.

Dr Nick Coatsworth (pictured) has criticised the Labor leader for snubbing the plight of Melbourne mum Cheng Lei who was seized by the Chinese

Her partner Nick Coyle has begged the premier to raise her case with Chinese authorities while on his ground-breaking trip.

But Mr Andrews insisted the case was ‘deeply sensitive’ and said it was a matter for the federal government’s foreign affairs department, not state government.

Dr Coatsworth, Australia’s former deputy health officer, blasted the decision in a searing post on Twitter. 

‘Odd that when it comes to the rights of a Victorian imprisoned in China, with kids in Victoria, it’s not Dan’s issue, it’s for Foreign Affairs,’ he posted on Tuesday evening.

‘But when it comes to Belt and Road and other strategic partnerships with a major foreign power, he’s happy to go it alone. Curious.’

Mr Andrews’ trip is the first by an Australian politician since the AUKUS nuclear submarines deal was revealed in 2021 which sparked a furious reaction from China. 

Cheng Lei, who moved to Melbourne with her family when she was a child, has been imprisoned in China for more than two years

The premier has banned local press from joining the trip sparking further fury about the lack of scrutiny, with the visit now only to be reported by China’s state run media.

He insisted the trip would be a series of back to back meetings with officials in Beijing, Jiangsu and Sichuan and would not be ‘picture-friendly’. 

Mr Andrews said the purpose of the trip was to encourage more Chinese students to return to Victorian universities in the wake of Covid pandemic restrictions being lifted.

Ms Lei’s partner begged the premier to raise the issue of her detention during the trip and work to reunite her with her daughter, 13, and son, 11, in Melbourne.

The former onscreen anchor for Chinese broadcaster CGTN has been held by authorities after being charged with ‘illegally supplying state secrets overseas’, but exact details have never been revealed.

‘Lei considers Melbourne home,’ said Mr Coyle. 

‘I think supporting two young Victorian children by making representations to officials in China for regular contact with their mother would be an entirely appropriate thing for a premier to do.’ 

The premier refused to get involved ahead of his trip and insisted it was a federal government matter and he was focusing on economic links with China through education.

‘There are a number of people in custody,’ he said before leaving. 

‘I just want to make it very clear, that would not be something that I would raise because they are deeply sensitive matters.

‘They’re best dealt with by the Australian foreign service.

‘Some things are absolutely appropriate to raise. Other things, you need to be very careful when you are the leader of a sub-sovereign state.’

Ms Lei faced a secret trial one year ago – which Australian diplomats were barred from attending because it included state secrets – but its verdict and any sentence have never been revealed. 

Her family says the ongoing situation is ‘extremely difficult’ and are desperate for the government to find a solution which will allow her to return home to her children.

‘Everybody is holding up as well as possible under the circumstances,’ Mr Coyle told the ABC.

‘Fortunately, consular visits can now be done face to face rather than video link, which is good, but the ongoing uncertainty is distressing.

‘I think it’s very important that her case and the plight of her children is raised as regularly as possible to as many senior officials in China as possible.’