Andrews defends Attendance at China Military Parade as Criticism Mounts
BEIJING – Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is facing scrutiny after attending a military parade in Beijing and posing for a photograph alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and chinese President Xi Jinping.โ
Prime minister Anthony Albanese addressed the controversy during Question Time, stating he was not responsible for theโ actions of private โcitizens. “My position isโ very, very โขclear,โค which is โwe did not send any government representative โขas โคit would not have been โappropriate,” heโ told parliament.He further emphasized, “Noneโ of my peopleโ would have sat in that position, as simple as โthat.”
The attendance has โdrawn criticism from opposition figures. Shadow Defense Minister angus Taylor questioned Mr.Andrews’s allegiance, stating he needed โคto “decide whether he’s Australian or not,”โฃ and accused Mr. Albanese of failing to condemn the โขformer premier’s actions. Liberal senator Jane โHume describedโข the move asโฃ an “appalling lack of judgement,” adding it was “not great for australia’s reputation” to see him nearโข Putinโ and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Since retiring asโ Victorian premier two years ago, Mr. Andrews has transitioned to the private sector, working primarily as a consultant with connections to Chinese companies.