Dan Andrews: Former Victorian Premier yet to break silence over controversial Chinese military parade photo

A former state premier is yet to break his silence after being criticised for appearing alongside controversial world leaders at a Chinese military parade.

But his Labor comrades continue to defend him, after the man branded ‘Dictator Dan’ by his detractors raised eyebrows by appearing in photographs with dictators and alleged war criminals.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin were among high-profile leaders in Beijing for the parade on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.

Ex-Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews was shown shaking hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and joining world leaders for group photographs.

He’s yet to officially respond to criticism of his attendance at the commemoration.

But his successor, Jacinta Allan, who will travel to China for trade talks later this month, has backed the Labor icon following the backlash.

“It is good for Victoria that Daniel Andrews is held in such high regard by the people of China,” she said in a statement on Thursday.

“Victoria is an old friend of China and these connections are so valuable for our state.

“I’m looking forward to building on this connection by leading a trade mission to China this month where I’ll meet with business, government, educators, and communities and launch Victoria’s new China strategy.”

Victoria has a sister state relationship with China’s Sichuan province. A number of councils have sister city relationships with other centres.

Ms Allan, who faces a state election next year, did not directly address the television footage and agency photographs of Mr Andrews with Mr Putin and Mr Kim and other leaders.

But ex-Queensland Labor premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday ticked off Mr Andrews, saying his attendance at the parade was “a bridge too far”.

Victorian government minister Gabrielle Williams also declined to criticise Mr Andrews, reiterating that his attendance at the parade was as a private citizen.

“I’m not here to speak for Dan Andrews,” she told reporters on Thursday morning.

Rudd-era foreign minister Bob Carr was in Beijing for the commemorations but decided not to attend the parade because he thought it would be “extremely boring”.

“I’m not criticising Dan Andrews,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

“He’s vigorous enough to defend himself, which he’s demonstrated in a remarkably successful political career.”

The federal coalition has raised questions about the presence of both Mr Andrews and Mr Carr. While Australia’s ambassador to China did not take part, the government did send a junior official.

Liberal Senator Jane Hume took aim at Mr Andrews, suggesting he displayed a “lack of judgment”.

“It was clearly a sign of military might, a display of military might quite threatening in its intentions,” she told Nine’s Today program.

“And there he was, standing alongside some of the most unsavoury characters from right around the world.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese batted away concerns on Wednesday, pointing out that the Abbott Liberal government sent senior Victorian senator Michael Ronaldson to the 70th anniversary in 2015.

Mr Albanese has repeatedly described Mr Andrews as a friend, with the pair having previously lived together.

Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley heaped fresh pressure on the prime minister to rebuke his former flatmate on Thursday.

“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,” she told Sky News.

AAP has approached Mr Andrews for a response.