Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I applaud the courage that's been demonstrated by former Queensland Labor premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, former federal Labor member Michael Danby, former prominent Labor senator and minister Graham Richardson and former prominent New South Wales state Labor parliamentarian Michael Costa, who have all agreed that the decision by Dan Andrews, the former Labor premier of Victoria, to go to Beijing to participate in the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II—and that is an interpretation that the Chinese Communist Party seeks to make over those events which is very, very wrong. Those Labor former premiers and federal parliamentarians have demonstrated great courage and, in fact, protected Australia's national interest by calling out the poor judgement that Mr Andrews has made in choosing to go to China.

We have to be very conscious that we are dealing with a significantly changed geopolitical environment. The most recent Defence strategic review document makes it very clear. It says that Australia's interests are now more challenging and that we are dealing with a competition with China that is being framed by an intense contest of narratives and values. (Time expired)