Former premier Daniel Andrews has defended a controversial visit to China to attend a military parade alongside dictators despite criticism from both sides of politics on the optics of his attendance.
The former Victorian leader attended a parade in Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
Mr Andrews said his visit followed a formal invitation to the event.
He said while maintaining ties with China was important, he condemned the actions of other leaders who attended the parade.
“I’ve said for years that a constructive relationship with China – our largest trading partner – is in Australia’s national interest and hundreds of thousands of Australian jobs depend on it. That hasn’t changed,” he said in a statement.
“Just so there’s no conclusion – I have condemned Putin and his illegal war in Ukraine from day one. That’s why he banned me from Russia last year.”
Mr Andrews criticised Iran in the statement, after the Middle East nation’s leader attended the event.
“My support for Israel and Australia’s Jewish community has been outspoken and unwavering and I unequivocally condemn Iran for its attacks on Australia, Israel and elsewhere around the world,” he said.
He said the event was a chance to meet with leaders in the region, such as former New Zealand prime ministers John Key and Helen Clark.
The visit to China attracted criticism in federal parliament, with the opposition urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to condemn Mr Andrews for his appearance.
Mr Albanese said he was not responsible for Mr Andrews’ actions.
He said the coalition was “delulu” (slang for delusional) for questioning why he had not condemned the former premier.
“I am not responsible for what every Australian citizen does,” he told parliament on Thursday.
“What I am responsible for is what our government does.”
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley continued the coalition attack on Mr Andrews.
“Today I once again unequivocally express the coalition’s utter condemnation of former premier Dan Andrews’s attendance at the CCP military parade, where he stood with dictators, despots and war criminals like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un,” she told parliament.
Mr Andrews’ successor, Jacinta Allan, who will travel to China for trade talks later in September, backed him.
“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. A number of councils have sister city relationships with other centres.
Ms Allan, who faces a state election in 2026, did not directly address the television footage and agency photographs of Mr Andrews with Mr Putin and Mr Kim and other leaders.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was far more critical, questioning if it was worth standing behind the Russian and North Korean leaders for “self-interested business purposes”.
“I think for the vast majority, myself included, the value judgement (is) it’s not worth that photo,” he told the Nine Network.
“It’s not something I would have done.”
Former Queensland Labor premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Wednesday Mr Andrews’ parade appearance was “a bridge too far”.
Rudd-era foreign minister Bob Carr was in Beijing for the commemorations but decided not to attend the parade because he thought it would be “extremely boring”.
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