'Extraordinary': Dan Andrews slammed for China parade attendance
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has attracted sweeping criticism over his decision to attend a military parade in Beijing alongside world leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, North Korea's Kim Jong-un, and Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Andrews and former foreign minister and NSW premier Bob Carr both attended an event hosted by Xi to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Japan in WWII.
However, Andrews was the only one of the pair to remain in attendance for a massive military parade that has been widely interpreted as a Chinese government challenge to the US and the West more broadly.
READ MORE: Multiple dead, dozens injured after funicular crash in Portugal
Liberal Senator Jane Hume said Andrews' decision to do so displayed an "extraordinary lack of judgement".
"It was clearly a sign of military might, a display of military might quite threatening in its intentions," Hume said on Today.
"And there (Andrews) was, standing alongside some of the most unsavoury characters from right around the world."
READ MORE: Danielle was given just months to live. Then came a glimmer of hope
Carr himself essayed a subtle swipe at Andrews, saying that for himself, he had "made it clear" to the Chinese ambassador he hadn't attended the event for the parade.
"Do you think that I was excited by the idea of watching weapons? I certainly would have avoided them," he said.
China expert Neil Thomas, from the Asia Centre, said Andrews' presence was "not a great message".
READ MORE: Nukes, lasers and 'robot wolves' on show as China flexes military might
He pointed out that Putin, Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko, and Myanmar military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, all of whom were also at the parade, had been sanctioned by the Australian government.
"I think it's always good for former high-profile politicians to consult with DFAT, with the other relevant people in the Australian government, on these kind of trips," Thomas said.
"Of course, you know, they are out of office. They can make their own decisions.
"But I think just plugging into Australia's diplomatic apparatus to let people know and give them a heads up, rather than having them find out through Chinese government announcements, is probably a better way to go about doing things."
Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy told Today Andrews' decision was that of a "private indivdual".
"I know there's much commentary across the country in regards to that photo ... but at the end of the day, it was a decision that Dan Andrews wanted to make," she said.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
