Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has defended his decision to attend China's military parade in Beijing, where he was pictured alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Andrews described the event as an opportunity to 'meet and engage with regional leaders'.
The parade marked 80 years since Japan's surrender at the end of the Second World War. Live footage showed Andrews shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the red carpet in Tiananmen Square. Other attendees included the Iranian president and Myanmar's junta leader.
In a statement, Andrews said he had been invited with foreign dignitaries including the Malaysian prime minister and former New Zealand leaders. He reiterated his condemnation of Putin's war in Ukraine and his support for Israel, noting that Putin had banned him from Russia last year.
Australia's ambassador to China did not attend the event, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was reportedly unaware of Andrews' attendance until media reports. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it would have been inappropriate for government representatives to attend, but noted Andrews was there in a private capacity.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge criticised the decision, saying former leaders should 'push the world closer to peace, not join a military parade with a bunch of dictators'. Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll also broke ranks, stating the photo was 'not something I would have done'.
Current Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who is due to visit Beijing in September, defended Andrews, saying his connection with China was 'valuable for our state'. However, several state and federal Labor MPs expressed shock and disappointment at the image.
