Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is yet to break his silence after being criticised for appearing alongside controversial world leaders at a Chinese military parade.
But his Labor comrades continue to defend him, after the man branded “Dictator Dan” by his detractors raised eyebrows by appearing in photographs with dictators and alleged war criminals.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin were among high-profile leaders in Beijing for the parade on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.
Andrews was shown shaking hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and joining world leaders for group photographs.
He’s yet to officially respond to criticism of his attendance at the commemoration.
During Question Time on Thursday, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to condemn Andrews for rubbing shoulders with “dictators, despots and war criminals”.
Albanese replied that no representative from his government had attended China’s military parade because “it was not appropriate”.
Yet, he said, the Liberal Party under then-prime minister Tony Abbott had sent government minister Michael Ronaldson to the same event in 2015.
“I haven’t, and never will, meet Vladimir Putin. I haven’t and never will meet the leader of North Korea as well, and we will give every support to people fighting for democracy right around the world. That’s my government’s approach,” Albanese said.
Andrews’ successor, Jacinta Allan, who will travel to China for trade talks later this month, backed Andrews following the backlash.
“It is good for Victoria that Daniel Andrews is held in such high regard by the people of China,” she said on Thursday.
“Victoria is an old friend of China and these connections are so valuable for our state.
“I’m looking forward to building on this connection by leading a trade mission to China this month where I’ll meet with business, government, educators, and communities and launch Victoria’s new China strategy.”
Victoria has a sister state relationship with China’s Sichuan province. Several councils have sister city relationships with other centres.
Allan, who faces a state election next year, did not directly address the television footage and agency photographs of Andrews with Putin and Kim and other leaders.
But ex-Queensland Labor premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday ticked off Andrews, saying his attendance at the parade was “a bridge too far”.
Victorian government minister Gabrielle Williams also declined to criticise Andrews, reiterating that his attendance at the parade was as a private citizen.
“I’m not here to speak for Dan Andrews,” she said on Thursday.
Rudd-era foreign minister Bob Carr was also in Beijing for the commemorations. He said he had decided not to attend the parade because he thought it would be “extremely boring”.
“I’m not criticising Dan Andrews,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“He’s vigorous enough to defend himself, which he’s demonstrated in a remarkably successful political career.”
The federal Coalition has raised questions about the presence of Andrews and Carr. While Australia’s ambassador to China did not take part, the government did send a junior official.
Liberal senator Jane Hume took aim at Andrews, suggesting he displayed a “lack of judgment”.
“It was clearly a sign of military might, a display of military might quite threatening in its intentions,” she told Nine’s Today program.
“There [Andrews] was, standing alongside some of the most unsavoury characters from right around the world.”
Albanese has repeatedly described Andrews as a friend, with the pair having previously lived together.
Ley heaped fresh pressure on Albanese to rebuke his former flatmate on Thursday.
“Anthony Albanese needs to demonstrate some moral clarity here and actually call out Daniel Andrews for being just a few feet away from dictators and despots,” she told Sky News.
Andrews has been approached for a response.
-AAP
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