Albanese Pressed to Show ‘Moral Clarity’ After Dan Andrews’ Appearance at CCP Parade

The opposition continues to challenge Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call out a senior Labor figure for shaking hands and being part of a photo-op with authoritarian leaders during Beijing’s military parade.

Footage showing former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews shaking hands with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping was beamed around the world, along with a photo with Xi, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley drew attention to the close friendship between Andrews and Albanese, during an interview with Sky News Australia.

“I know that the prime minister and Daniel Andrews have been close. They worked together on a strategy leading into the election campaign,” she said.

“Old flatmates stick together. 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 at a Chinese parade, that the Chinese Communist Party demonstrated its military strength,” Ley said.

The parade cost an estimated US$5 billion and was also attended by the leaders of of Iran, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

When asked if Andrews’ actions were “treachery,” Ley said, “Some would call it that.”

“We need to have a statement of moral clarity from the prime minister, that to see his great friend be so close to dictators and despots at an event hosted by the Chinese Communist Party, which is a military show of strength to the west. That does need comment from our prime minister,” Ley said.

Albanese and Andrews both hail from the left faction of the Labor Party and were seen dining together at a luxury Melbourne restaurant in June before the G7 summit in Canada.

Former Queensland Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had described Andrews’ attendance as a “bridge too far.”

While Alex Hawke, the Liberal Party’s Manager of Opposition Business in the House said the country’s leaders needed to support democracy and not authoritarianism.

“This shameful moment for Australia needs calling out as former Labor Premier Daniel Andrews stood at a military parade just behind … some of the most brutal dictators in human history,” Hawke said on X.

Albanese Refrains from Condemning Former Premier

Meanwhile, Albanese has distanced the federal government from Andrews’ actions in two consecutive Question Times.

“My position is very, very clear. Which is we did not send any government representative because it would not have been appropriate,” Albanese told Parliament on Sept. 4.

In a separate question the prime minister was asked by the MP for Herbert, Phillip Thompson, “Is the prime minister aware that Daniel Andrews has not disclosed his engagement on the Australian government’s Foreign Influence Transparency scheme?”

Albanese responded, “Everyone should comply with the law. Simple as that.”

This public register is a scheme that allows Australian individuals and organisations to disclose their links to foreign entities.

On Sept. 3, Albanese was asked a similar question and pointed to the Coalition’s track record.

“At the 70th anniversary [of the CCP], 10 years ago, the former government sent a Liberal minister, Michael Ronaldson, to represent the Australian government. I understand that Australian embassy officials will formally represent Australia this time,” Albanese said in parliament (pdf).

Albanese also made clear Andrews was no longer an MP and was acting in his own private capacity.

“I’m responsible for the Australian government, the Australian government did have a representative there, and the Australian government did have a representative 10 years ago. That was a minister in the government. Our government chose that that would not be the case,” he said.