Thoughts on this story ... The BRI is Beijing’s most powerful tool for reshaping the international order. The Australian government has made it very clear that it will protect Australia's sovereignty against interference by foreign powers. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-21/federal-government-tears-up-four-victorian-government-deals/100085676?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=twitter&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

The Victorian BRI agreement has been an important avenue for Beijing’s influence in Australia. You only need to observe the language used by the Andrews government to see this.

Beijing has been trying to by-pass Canberra's firm opposition to interference by seducing state governments and local councils, a policy known in CCP lexicon as nongcun baowei chengshi or ‘using the countryside to surround the cities’.

That’s why the 2020 foreign relations law, giving Canberra a veto over state and local government agreements with foreign powers, was a necessary move. It was aimed squarely at China’s practices of building influence with elites in states and cities—and in universities.

Victoria's BRI and the lease on the Port of Darwin by a state-linked Chinese company have been at the forefront of Canberra's thinking. Confucius Institutes are also a cause of concern.

Beijing may take punitive action against Australia for this decision. But it ought to be clear by now that retribution will have no effect on the Australian government’s resolve to resist foreign interference by China.

Punitive measures will only provoke greater negative feelings towards China in Australia, and weaken Beijing’s friends in Australia. However, Beijing might decide it's worthwhile in order to send a message to other nations thinking about ending their BRI agreements.