Former NSW premier Bob Carr has defended Daniel Andrews’ decision to pose with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at yesterday’s Chinese military parade in Beijing, saying it was “not remotely” an embarrassing look for Labor as the Albanese government distances itself from the photograph.
Carr, who attended sideline events in Beijing yesterday but declined an invitation for the military parade, said Andrews could not control the guest list, which included two dozen world leaders including Putin and Kim, and said it was “terrific” to engage with like-minded delegations that had convened in China.
Bob Carr (left) skipped the parade while Daniel Andrews (right) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We’ve got a relationship with China in excellent working order because of the vision of Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong,” Carr told ABC Radio Melbourne.
Carr unsuccessfully attempted to discuss the parade with Andrews in the past week, saying that the former Victorian premier had been “very busy” while travelling across Asia before arriving in Beijing.
Australian ambassador to China Scott Dewar didn’t attend the parade, with the Australian embassy’s defence attaché and political counsellor sent instead.
Anthony Albanese opted against defending Andrews yesterday, noting that Andrews, a longtime friend of Albanese’s, was not meeting Kim or Putin in Beijing and that the former Coalition had sent then-minister for veterans’ affairs Michael Ronaldson to a similar parade a decade ago.
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