Peta Credlin: Why Daniel Andrews was slammed over Chinese military parade attendance
What is it with Daniel Andrews? Not content with screwing over Victorians, he’s now going after our country, too?, asks Peta Credlin.
It was former NSW Labor premier Neville Wran who said that the best thing about the working class was getting out of it – and few better exemplifies the dash for cash than his former Victorian counterpart, Daniel Andrews.
For a Chinese leader hellbent on world domination, President Xi’s effusive greeting of a “useful idiot” from Australia at the start of his giant and intimidatory military parade was a way to suggest that Australia might be rethinking its US alliance.
But for Andrews, it looks like it was either a sign of support for a regime that routinely murders and oppresses its own people, and is increasingly belligerent towards its neighbours – and Australian military personnel – or a sign that for the right amount of reward and access, he might turn a blind eye.
In parliament last week, Anthony Albanese claimed that his former flatmate and campaign political adviser was there as a private citizen, and that it was none of the government’s business.
But in a statement he subsequently released after the public backlash, Andrews said that he was there to build “a constructive relationship with China” that’s “in Australia’s national interest”.
Sure, just like signing Victoria up to China’s Belt and Road deal was good for taxpayers!
Andrews’ successor, current Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen, likewise, refused to be critical, saying that “it is good for Victoria that Daniel Andrews is held in such high regard by the people of China”.
Allen is about to lead a “huge delegation for a four-city, five-day trip to China”, including backbench MPs with high numbers of Chinese-born constituents, in another a sign of how large-scale immigration is warping Australian domestic politics.
To their credit, at least some Labor figures rebuked their former colleague.
Former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that “trade is one thing, but military parades? I would honestly stop and think seriously about that”.
Former federal Labor MP Michael Danby said it was “disgusting”. One federal Labor MP reportedly called the former premier a “traitor” for standing on a podium with murderous dictators.
What is it with this guy? Not content with screwing over Victorians, he’s now going after our country, too?
THUMBS UP
AFL legend Mick Malthouse for successfully fighting off three armed home invaders (as discussed on my Sky show on Thursday). But what does this say about the anarchy now engulfing Melbourne?
THUMBS DOWN
Greens senator Nick McKim who said that if it was OK for Jacinta Price to wear the Australian flag into the Senate chamber, he’d enter wearing the Palestinian flag. What doesn’t he get: one flag is ours and the other belongs to a sponsor of terrorism?
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Originally published as Peta Credlin: Why Daniel Andrews was slammed over Chinese military parade attendance
