Independent MP Dai Le says the attendance of former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews at the Beijing military parade commemorating 80 years since Japan’s defeat in World War II is “very concerning”. He says former high-ranking politicians “hold a very high esteem” in international circles and Andrews will invite questions about his influence in China.
Andrews stirred controversy after posing for a photograph with Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and two dozen other people at the military parade on Wednesday, where China displayed its military might while the rest of the world watched. The Albanese government has sought to distance itself from Andrews’ decision, reiterating that he attended in a private capacity and not as a representative for Australia.
Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews poses for a photo with political leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un, ahead of a Chinese military parade in Beijing on Wednesday.Credit: The Age
“I think it’s very concerning,” Le told Nine’s Today this morning.
“As we all know, former premiers, former prime ministers hold a very high esteem position within the world stage, and as we know Dan Andrews and the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, are close … so I think there is going to be some reading into this, despite the fact that he’s a private citizen, I would argue that he’s still a very prominent figure in our political space.”
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