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Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is under fire after appearing at a Chinese military parade alongside global strongmen including Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising questions in Australia about political judgment, business interests and national security.
Political strategist Yaron Finkelstein, a former senior adviser to Scott Morrison, said on Sky News’ AM Agenda that Andrews’ decision to stand “shoulder to shoulder with some of the worst dictators of the 21st century” was a striking choice that carried diplomatic consequences.
“Victorians had a rather unkind nickname for Dan Andrews — Dictator Dan,” Finkelstein said. “Looks like the Chinese took that pretty seriously and thought it would be a good idea to invite him. It’s a question of optics, without a doubt.”
Questions Over Motives
Andrews, who resigned as Victorian premier in 2023, has kept a relatively low public profile. His attendance at the parade has reignited debate over his past push to sign Victoria onto China’s Belt and Road Initiative — an agreement the Morrison government later tore up, citing national security concerns.
“If he’s interested in business with China, either Chinese interests investing in Australia or vice versa, he’s just made bank,” Finkelstein said. “It’s obviously a fairly useful way to signal your connections and it’s bold. It has drawbacks and I think Australians would have a lot of cause to wonder why you’d do it.”
Finkelstein noted that Andrews’ long history of dealings with Beijing made the appearance consistent with his past approach, but said the move sent a provocative message.
“Trade’s okay, but don’t sell your soul,” Finkelstein said. “Andrews has had a long history of trying to do things with China. It’s actually quite consistent for him to be there. It’s just a very bold move and very obvious.”
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Optics and National Security
The event showcased China’s latest military hardware, with state media boasting that the arsenal on display was capable of striking targets anywhere in the world — including Australia. Analysts said the parade was not merely ceremonial, but a deliberate projection of power aimed at Washington and its allies.
“This isn’t trade and economy,” Finkelstein said. “This is power and force. That sends a very odd signal if you want to associate yourself with China sending a message to the world that they can get tough.”
Finkelstein questioned whether Andrews had sought counsel from senior figures in Canberra before accepting the invitation. “Surely a phone call from the Prime Minister to Daniel Andrews to tell him it’s not really going to be a great look,” he said, noting that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was known to be friendly with Andrews and had recently been seen dining with him.
The Albanese government did not send senior representatives to the parade, with only junior diplomatic staff in attendance. “That could have been a good cue for anyone who knows how to read the tea leaves,” Finkelstein said.
Standing With Putin
Criticism intensified after photographs circulated of Andrews appearing in the same frame as Putin, who remains an international pariah over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest over alleged war crimes.
“Not everybody poses for a photo alongside the likes of Vladimir Putin, who is still undertaking a war on innocent people,” Finkelstein said. “That’s a choice by Daniel Andrews to stand in that photo.”
The Nauru Deal Debate
The Sky News interview also turned to domestic policy, with discussion of the federal government’s agreement with Nauru to house non-citizens released from indefinite detention following a High Court ruling.
Finkelstein said the deal, while expensive, was necessary to address public concern over community safety and border control. “Court case finds that all these people can’t be held. And there’s some very bad people — people who are convicted of awful crimes,” he said.
“Anthony Albanese has had to take a leaf out of the Howard government playbook to get this done. And I think that’s where Australians are at. They say, fix it, because we do not like what has occurred over these last two years.”
He added that while the government had found a temporary fix, “they haven’t really solved the broader problem of how they’re managing our borders.”
Industry Minister Defends Trade Approach
Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres, speaking in a separate segment on AM Agenda, defended the government’s broader trade policy and its management of relations with Beijing. Ayres said Australia’s economic ties with China remained crucial, but insisted security concerns were not being overlooked.
“Australia engages with China as one of our biggest trading partners,” Ayres said. “But we always do so in a way that protects our national interests and our security.”
Ayres pointed to recent government measures aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and innovation, saying Australia could not be complacent in the face of shifting global power dynamics.
“We’re investing in our industries so that Australia is not left vulnerable,” he said. “That’s the lesson from the last decade. We need resilience at home even as we trade abroad.”
Political Fallout
The controversy over Andrews’ trip has cut across party lines. Coalition figures seized on the photographs as evidence of poor judgment, while Labor has so far avoided commenting publicly on the former premier’s decision.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the images risked undermining Australia’s diplomatic standing. “Standing beside Putin at a parade designed to showcase military intimidation is not in the national interest,” Birmingham said in a statement.
Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto said Andrews’ presence raised “serious questions about priorities and loyalties” at a time when China’s regional posture remained a growing concern for Australian security agencies.
Belt and Road Legacy
The episode has reignited debate over Andrews’ aborted Belt and Road deal, which the Morrison government terminated under new foreign veto powers in 2021. That agreement had been criticised as undermining federal authority on foreign policy and aligning Victoria too closely with Beijing.
Finkelstein said Andrews’ appearance at the parade suggested he remained keen to cultivate links with Chinese powerbrokers. “If you are going to suggest that, well, then you can understand why he would — because anyone wanting to do business with China is going to think, well, that man’s well-connected,” he said.
Strategic Messaging From Beijing
Analysts said China’s decision to invite foreign political figures to the parade was part of a broader strategy to showcase international legitimacy while highlighting its military reach.
“It was precisely choreographed in true China style,” Finkelstein said. “This was very much about China trying to send a signal to America and its allies.”
The spectacle included ballistic missiles, stealth aircraft and naval displays, with Chinese state media declaring that “no target is out of reach.” Security experts warned that such messaging was designed to test the resolve of U.S. allies, including Australia, which hosts American troops and facilities under the AUKUS security pact.
A Divisive Image
For Andrews, the fallout from a single photograph may linger. Critics said his presence lent legitimacy to authoritarian regimes, while supporters argued that former leaders often maintain international contacts for business and cultural reasons.
Finkelstein said the optics were unavoidable. “It’s not every day you go from being the leader of an Australian state to posing alongside some of the worst dictators,” he said. “That’s a choice. But at what cost?”
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