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In choosing to pose for a photograph with Russian President Vladimir Putin, former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has displayed appalling political judgment and cast an indelible dark shadow over any legacy he may have enjoyed.
Andrews was photographed on a podium in Beijing alongside President Xi Jinping, Putin and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and others as China marks the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender.
Thousands marched through Tiananmen Square on Wednesday in a display of military might reminiscent of US President Donald Trump taking the salute last June as the US Army celebrated its 250th anniversary.
Thanks to the Ukraine war and North Korea’s nuclear threats, the celebration was largely shunned by Western leaders; the Albanese government, concerned at the increasingly assertive behaviour of the People’s Liberation Army, pointedly snubbed Xi’s huge military parade and delegated the Australian embassy’s defence attaché and political counsellor to attend the celebration in the place of our absent ambassador Scott Dewar.
However, the China Victory Day Parade attracted other great and small political luminaries from around the world, including Andrews. Former NSW premier Bob Carr was also invited to the celebration, but opted to attend separate indoor events later in the day.
The pair’s presence in China may have helped to smudge the message Canberra was hoping to send Beijing, but only Andrews was dumb enough to pose behind the murderous leader of an invading nation. The wily and experienced Carr opted to give both the parade and the “photo op” a miss.
Of course, Australian ex-politicians are free to rub shoulders with whoever they choose, but the question must be asked of Andrews: what senses did he decide to take leave of when he elected to stand with Putin and think it was a good look?
Putin is evil. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged involvement in the abduction of children during his illegal invasion of Ukraine that has also killed thousands, made Trump’s attempt at peace look ridiculous and threatened world stability. Yet, a day before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled to join an urgent meeting of global leaders to build support for Ukraine and as Australian defence planners talk to their NATO colleagues about the best ways to enforce a potential peace deal with Russia, Andrews stood tall behind the Russian menace.
Andrews and China go way back. Without fanfare, Andrews signed Victoria onto China’s $1.5 trillion global infrastructure initiative, but Beijing’s Belt and Road deal was torn up by the Morrison government in 2021 as relations plummeted. Since resigning in 2023, Andrews has been operating in the shadows to lure investment to Victoria and his “photo op” appearance may be just part of doing business.
Andrews’ decision to inflict such damaging self-harm could indicate just how valuable his Chinese interests have become. The issue is not meeting Xi. Albanese has done that, albeit to mixed reviews. But for a former Australian state leader to stand on the same platform as Putin and Kim is inexcusable.
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