Albanese travelled to China to meet Xi in July and spruiked warmer ties, but the government did not want to be anywhere near the parade where Xi hosted Putin and Kim and a raft of other anti-Western national leaders.<\/p>\n
Andrews, a long-time ally of Albanese\u2019s from the same Left faction, advised the prime minister on debate tactics before the last election, and the pair caught up for lunch at Melbourne\u2019s Gimlet restaurant in June.<\/p>\n
Questions about Andrews\u2019 trip to Beijing plagued debate in Canberra on Wednesday. Albanese was twice asked about Andrews\u2019 attendance at the parade during question time on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Australian government did have a representative there,\u201d Albanese said. \u201cThe Australian government did have a representative 10 years ago [at the 70th anniversary celebrations]. That was a minister in the [Coalition] government. Our government chose that [sending a minister] would not be the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carr said he would attend separate indoor events following the parade and address two Chinese international relations think tanks instead of going to the parade.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told the Chinese I wouldn\u2019t be attending the parade but that I\u2019d like to accelerate arrangements to talk to think tanks,\u201d Carr said from Beijing. \u201cI had to make a decision on whether I was attracted to a traditional Soviet-style military parade or if I wanted to opt for the meetings with delegations.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked if he had sought a briefing before flying to Beijing, Carr said there were Australian diplomats at the events he attended.<\/p>\n
Palaszczuk said Carr and Andrews\u2019 attendance at the commemoration events was a mistake. \u201cIf it were me, it\u2019d be a definite N-O,\u201d Palaszczuk told Sky News on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI respect Dan, I respect Bob. But I think they\u2019ve just gone the next level. Go there for a holiday, do your business talks, but there\u2019s no need to attend this military parade.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward said it was a matter for Andrews and pushed back on questions of whether it was appropriate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the connotation?\u201d Ward said at a press conference earlier on Wednesday. \u201cHe\u2019s going as a private individual, and these are choices he\u2019s made as a private individual.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said it was important to maintain good, healthy relationships with other countries in the region.<\/p>\n
One Victorian Labor MP, speaking anonymously to be frank, said it was a bad look.<\/p>\n
Labor MPs were not willing to go on record criticising a successful former premier, but several were privately shocked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was quite sad really to see a provincial leader being used in this way,\u201d one told this masthead on the condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
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Both opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie and Nationals leader David Littleproud described Andrews and Carr as \u201cpawns\u201d of the Chinese regime.<\/p>\n
The image of Andrews standing two rows behind Kim in Xi\u2019s official group photo of foreign leaders and former leaders is set to boost the former premier\u2019s business clout in China, where portraits of the Chinese president are ubiquitous.<\/p>\n
Andrews spent $416,000 of taxpayers\u2019 funding on six trips to China as premier \u2013 more than on any other country \u2013 before and after Victoria signed on to Beijing\u2019s $1.5 trillion Belt and Road infrastructure<\/a> initiative in 2019.<\/p>\n The state government\u2019s disclosure logs reveal he witnessed deals between Chemist Warehouse and Alibaba, helped secure a $130 million partnership between medical technology specialist Compumedics and Chinese medical provider Health 100, lobbied for direct daily flights from Beijing and Sichuan to Melbourne, and the extension of a sponsorship deal between the Australian Open and Chinese liquor giant Luzhou Laojiao.<\/p>\n In early 2024, after resigning as premier, he registered two companies, Glencairn Street and Wedgetail Partners, the latter of which he runs with his former multicultural adviser, Marty Mei. Mei, who solicited political donations from the Chinese community and helped strike the Belt and Road deal, travelled on each trip to China with Andrews as premier.<\/p>\n Glencairn Street and Wedgetail Partners, which reportedly specialise in foreign investment, have no website or contact details. Andrews and Mei did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n