Daniel Andrews has defended his controversial visit to China , while also criticising the despots and dictators he was happy to pose for a ‘family photo’ beside. The former Victorian Premier was part of a select group of current and former world leaders invited to watch a 10,000–strong military parade in Beijing ‘s Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in China on Wednesday.

In extraordinary footage, Andrews was filmed being greeted by President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan on a red carpet procession before the Communist dictator embarked on an open–top car ride past one of the largest – and most foreboding – displays of military hardware the world has ever seen. His decision to pose for a ‘family photo’ with dictators such as Russian President Vladimir Putin , North Korea ‘s Kim Jong Un and Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian has triggered condemnation from across the political spectrum back home.

On Thursday afternoon, Andrews released a statement defending his decision to accept the invitation. ‘I’ve said for years that a constructive relationship with China – our largest trading partner – is in Australia’s national interest and hundreds of thousands of Australian jobs depend on it. That hasn’t changed,’ Andrews said.

‘It was a chance to meet and engage with regional leaders–like former New Zealand prime ministers John Key and Helen Clark, Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and of course Chinese President Xi. We also shared in an official photograph. ‘And just so there’s no confusion – I have condemned Putin and his illegal war in Ukraine from day one. That’s why he banned me from Russia last year.

‘Further, my support for Israel and Australia’s Jewish community has been outspoken and unwavering, and I unequivocally condemn Iran for its attacks on Australia, Israel and elsewhere around the world.’ On Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused to directly criticize his friend and former flat mate for rubbing shoulders with leaders who are often dubbed the new ‘axis of evil’.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley had asked the Prime Minister about the optics of Andrews posing with despots and dictators. ‘What message does it send when the Prime Minister of this country doesn’t have the spine to condemn his former flatmate, Daniel Andrews for posing in family photos with the Iranian President, a leader whose regime has actively orchestrated attacks on Australian soil ?’, Ley asked.

At first, Albanese accused the Opposition of being ‘delulu’, a Gen Z word short for ‘delusional’ he first introduced to parliament in March after being dared by an influencer. ‘I am not responsible for what every Australian citizen does,’ he told parliament, adding that the former Liberal government sent then–veterans affairs minister Michael Ronaldson on Australia’s behalf to the 70th anniversary in 2015.

But the PM did offer an implicit criticism of Andrews’ actions, stating that neither he nor his MPs would have gone. ‘My position is very, very clear. Which is we did not send any government representative because it wouldn’t have been appropriate,’ Albanese added. ‘None of my team would have sat in that position, as simple as that.’

He added: ‘It certainly is not something that I would have even thought of doing and no–one in my government would have thought of doing, as simple as that.’ Andrews has been criticised even by those on the left. Former Labor Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Andrews had gone a ‘bridge too far’.

‘I respect Dan, I respect Bob, but I think they’ve just gone the next level,’ Palaszczuk told Sky News. ‘Go there for a holiday, do your business talks, but there’s no need to attend this military parade.’ ‘Trade is one thing, and tourism, but military parades, I would honestly stop and think seriously about that.’

Albanese and Andrews are old friends and once shared a flat together in Canberra in the late 1990s. The Australian ambassador to China, Scott Dewar, was not in attendance at the parade.