Labor Figures Criticise Dan Andrews, Bob Carr For Attending Beijing Military Events

Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and ex-New South Wales Premier Bob Carr have been criticised by former Labor colleagues for attending military events at the invitation of Beijing.

Andrews and Carr—former foreign minister—were both invited as official guests to be part of a military parade in Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3 aimed at commemorating the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Andrews was spotted on the red carpet ahead of the parade shaking hands with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi—the event was a who’s who of authoritarian and pro-Beijing leaders.

Carr appeared to later confirm to the Sydney Morning Herald that he would not attend the parade, but would instead take part in a separate indoor event, while addressing two Chinese think tanks.

Annastacia Palaszczuk, ex-Labor Premier of Queensland, suggested the two high profile Labor figures should not have attended, saying there was a difference between trade and military events.

“If it was me, it would be a definite N-O. I would not be attending that. It just is the next level. It’s a bridge too far,” she said in an interview with Sky News Australia.

She said both former leaders should have been aware of the type of company attending.

“I respect Dan, I respect Bob, but I think they’ve just gone the next level. Go there for a holiday, do your business talks, but there’s no need to attend this military parade,”

What is the Parade About?

The CCP is hosting the massive military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

The parade marks the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II and will feature advanced weapons to signify the CCP’s military ambitions.

The Second Sino-Japanese War, which the CCP calls the “Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression” saw the then-ruling Kuomintang (KMT) unite with the CCP on paper to fight off the Japanese.

However, while the KMT bore the brunt of the fighting (and casualties), the CCP deliberately avoided directly confronting the Japanese, and instead, focused on rebuilding its army and influence in rural China.

When the war ended, the Chinese Civil War would start up once again, with the CCP taking advantage of the weakened KMT eventually securing control over China, while the KMT fled to establish Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the location of Tiananmen Square is the site of massacre on pro-democracy protesters in 1989, when the CCP military opened fire on citizens including thousands of students.

Australia’s ambassador to China is not attending the parade, despite receiving an invitation.

Another former Labor MP Michael Danby also criticised Andrews and Carr for attending, describing it as “absolutely inappropriate.”

“Dan Andrew and Bob Carr are going to be watching a military parade of missiles that are going to be pointed at our Japanese allies and at American bases in the Philippines,” he told News Corp.

Among the guests at the Parade will be Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Meanwhile, Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has also weighed into the debate, calling the attendance by Andrews and Carr, “absurd.”

Canavan described the CCP as a “brutal dictatorship that continues to oppress the Chinese people.”

He said Andrews and Carr were being “used as props” and said it was “absurd” that former Australian state would do this, especially after the federal Albanese government distanced itself from the event.

“Why are Labor premiers doing this and undermining the Australian government’s position,” he said on 2GB.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the two leaders owed the Australian people an explanation.

“I think for those two individuals, they need to explain why they are attending a military parade that Vladimir Putin is attending and what that actually tells the world,” she told the Today show.

Carr Makes No Apologies

Carr has defended his presence at the march, arguing its a historic  Chinese victory over Japan was a historic event worth celebrating.

“It’s in Australia’s interest to work for a good relationship with China and I don’t apologise for one moment for making my contribution,” he told the ABC.

The former NSW leader dismissed concerns the event would feature leaders from nations hostile to Australia, including North Korea.

“Well, it’s precisely the company that the prime minister will be in when he visits on Australia’s behalf at the United Nations General Assembly.”

Military Parade to Cost Beijing $5 Billion

Deputy minister at Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council Shen Yu-chung said Beijing’s military parade would cost more than 36 billion yuan ($5 billion).

China’s total military budget is about 1.78 trillion yuan ($246 billion) as of March 2025.

“They are willing to spend more than NT$150 billion to hold a military exercise while neglecting China’s economic, labor, and social issues,” Shen said.

“I wonder what the Chinese people think about this situation.”