Daniel Andrews | |
|---|---|
 Andrews in 2018 | |
| 48thPremier of Victoria | |
| In office 4 December 2014 – 27 September 2023 | |
| Monarchs | |
| Governor | |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Denis Napthine |
| Succeeded by | Jacinta Allan |
| 17thLeader of the Labor Party in Victoria | |
| In office 3 December 2010 – 27 September 2023 | |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | John Brumby |
| Succeeded by | Jacinta Allan |
| Leader of the Opposition in Victoria | |
| In office 3 December 2010 – 4 December 2014 | |
| Premier | |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Ted Baillieu |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Guy |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 3 August 2007 – 2 December 2010 | |
| Premier | John Brumby |
| Preceded by | Bronwyn Pike |
| Succeeded by | David Davis |
| Minister for Gaming | |
| In office 1 December 2006 – 3 August 2007 | |
| Premier | Steve Bracks |
| Preceded by | John Pandazopoulos |
| Succeeded by | Tony Robinson |
| Minister for Consumer Affairs | |
| In office 1 December 2006 – 3 August 2007 | |
| Premier | Steve Bracks |
| Preceded by | Marsha Thomson |
| Succeeded by | Tony Robinson |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Mulgrave | |
| In office 20 November 2002 – 27 September 2023 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Eden Foster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Daniel Michael Andrews (1972-07-06)6 July 1972 (age 53) |
| Political party | Labor |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Monash University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | www |
Daniel Michael Andrews (born 6 July 1972) is an Australian former politician who served as the 48thpremier of Victoria from 2014 to 2023. He held office as the leader of theVictorian branch of theAustralian Labor Party (ALP) from 2010 and was a member of theVictorian Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the district ofMulgrave from 2002 until his resignation in 2023. Andrews is the longest-serving Labor premier and thefourth-most-tenured premier inVictorian state history.
Andrews entered theBracks Ministry in 2006, serving as theMinister for Consumer Affairs. The following year, he was later appointedMinister for Health in theBrumby Ministry until the defeat of the government at the2010 election byTed Baillieu. Whilst in opposition, Andrews was elected Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria, and becameLeader of the Opposition.
After one term in opposition, Andrews led Labor to victory in the2014 election. He was sworn in Premier in December of that year. He led his party to an increased majority of eight seats in the lower house during the2018 election, and to a third landslide victory at the2022 election again increasing the party's majority in the house. Significant historical events during Andrews's time as premier included the2019–20 Australian bushfire season and theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Andrews is regarded a prominent figure amongprogressive politicians in Australia.[1] Major accomplishments of his government included the Big Build infrastructure projects, rental law reforms, voluntary assisted dying, legalisation of medicinal cannabis, adoption reforms, sex work decriminalisation, first nations treaties, safe injection rooms, compensation reform for victims ofinstitutionalised child-sex abuse, and the introduction of exclusion zones for protests outside abortion clinics.[2][3] Issues raised during his leadership include the heavy handed response to the pandemic, where thelockdown of public housing towers occurred.[4][5][6]
Andrews was born 6 July 1972 in Williamstown Hospital, in south-westernMelbourne. His parents, Bob and Jan Andrews, were both bank workers who lived in and later owned a milk bar inGlenroy. Andrews has a younger sister, Cynthia. Both Andews and his sister were raised as devoutCatholics and attended church every Sunday.[7]: 7 [8]
After an explosion in a neighbouring shop gutted the family business, Bob started working forDon Smallgoods as a delivery driver. In 1983, the family moved toWangaratta in north-eastern Victoria, where Bob was offered a delivery round by Don and where Jan went back to work for a bank. In Wangaratta, Andrews was educated at theMarist Brothers'Galen Catholic College.[7]: 7 [8]
Andrews moved back to Melbourne in 1990 to attendMonash University, where he was a resident ofMannix College and graduated with aBachelor of Arts degree in politics and classics in 1996. After graduating, Andrews became an electorate officer for federal Labor MPAlan Griffin. He worked at the party's head office from 1999 to 2002, initially as an organiser, and then as assistant state secretary. Andrews is a member of theSocialist Left faction of the Labor Party.[8][9]
Following his election to parliament in theLegislative Assembly seat ofMulgrave at the2002 election, Andrews was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health in theSteve Bracks Labor government. Following the2006 election, Andrews was appointed to the Cabinet, becomingMinister for Gaming,Minister for Consumer Affairs, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs.
In 2007, Andrews becameMinister for Health in theJohn Brumby Labor government.[10]In 2008, Andrews voted in favour of abortion law reform in Victoria.[11] As Health Minister during the passing of the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008, Andrews sought counsel from senior church clergy who advised him that the act was contrary to Church teaching. Andrews replied that he "did not intend to be a Catholic health minister. It was my intention to be a Victorian health minister."[8]
Brumby resigned as leader of the Victorian Labor Party following the Labor defeat at the2010 election, after 11 years of Labor governments. On 3 December 2010, Andrews was elected Victorian Labor Party leader, becomingLeader of the Opposition in Victoria, with former Deputy PremierRob Hulls staying on as his deputy.[12] Hulls resigned in early 2012 and was replaced as deputy byJames Merlino. Labor took the lead in the polls in mid-2012 and held it for all but a few months until the election, though Andrews consistently trailed his Liberal counterparts,Ted Baillieu (2010–2013) andDenis Napthine (2013–2014) as preferred premier.
| |
| Premiership of Daniel Andrews 4 December 2014 – 27 September 2023 | |
Daniel Andrews | |
| Cabinet | Andrews I Andrews II Andrews III |
| Party | Victorian Labor |
| Election | 2014·2018·2022 |
| Appointed by | GovernorAlex Chernov |
| Seat | 1 Treasury Place |
Labor held 43 seats at dissolution but notionally held 40 after the redistribution of electoral boundaries. It thus needed a net gain of five seats to form government. At the election, Labor gained seven seats for a total of 47, a majority of two.[13] The election was the first time since 1955 that an incumbent government was removed from office after a single term. In his victory speech, Andrews declared, "The people of Victoria have today given to us the greatest of gifts, entrusted to us the greatest of responsibilities, and bestowed upon us the greatest of honours. We will not let them down!"[14] He started as premier on 4 December 2014.[15]
| ||
|---|---|---|
Member of the Legislative Assembly forMulgrave (2002–2023)Premier of Victoria
Ministries Elections Royal Commissions | ||
 | ||
On winning office, Andrews government cancelled theEast West Link project and initiated theLevel Crossing Removal Project and theMelbourne Metro Rail Project. On 24 May 2016, Andrews made an official apology in parliament for gay men in Victoria punished duringthe time homosexuality was a crime in the state. It was decriminalised in 1981.[16] In August 2018, Andrews announced plans to build theSuburban Rail Loop, connecting all major rail lines via Melbourne Airport.[17]
Shortly after his taking office in 2014, Daniel Andrews ended the pay dispute with ambulance paramedics, which had started with the previous government. During the dispute, paramedics had protested by covering their ambulances with colourful slogans. The slogans were removed after Andrews promised to end the dispute.[18]
Upon his election, Andrews fast-tracked Victoria's ties with the PRC. Firstly, he led a group of prominent Victorians to China on his first overseas trip and promised to send his entire cabinet there during his first term.[citation needed] The Andrews government signed amemorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chinese government under theBelt and Road Initiative in October 2018, but kept its details secret until he released it five weeks later.[19] The MoU involves cooperation on facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, finance, people-to-people bond[s], and the "Digital Silkroad". Cooperation was to be in the form of "dialogue, joint research, pilot programs, knowledge sharing, and capacity building". Andrews said at the time that the MoU "does not bind Victoria to be involved in any specific project or initiative" and "the government will consider both the Victorian and national interest before agreeing to be involved in any specific activity".[19] On 21 April 2021, theCommonwealth Government used its veto powers to cancel the agreements made between Victoria and China under the Belt and Road Initiative.[20]
.jpg)
In September 2016, the Andrews Government privatised thePort of Melbourne for a term of 50 years in return for more than $9.7 billion.[21]
On 20 September 2017, theVoluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 was introduced into theLegislative Assembly of theVictorian Parliament by the AndrewsLabor Government. The bill is modelled on the recommendations of an expert panel chaired by formerAustralian Medical Association presidentProfessor Brian Owler. The proposed legislation was said by proponents to be the most conservative in the world and contain 68 safeguards including measures designed to protect vulnerable people from coercion and abuse, as well as a board to review each case.[22]Labor andCoalitionMPs were allowed aconscience vote on the Bill.[23][24] The bill was debated in the lower house over three sitting days, passing the Assembly without amendment on 20 October 2017 after an emotional and tense debate[25] which lasted more than 24 hours.[26] The bill was passed by 47 votes to 37.[27] The Bill finally passed through parliament, with amendments made in theVictorian Legislative Council, on 29 November 2017.[28] In passing the bill, Victoria became the first state to legislate for voluntary assisted dying. The law receivedroyal assent on 5 December 2017, and came into effect on 19 June 2019.[28][29]
At theNovember 2018 state election, Labor won a comprehensive victory, picking up an eight-seat swing for a total of 55 seats, tying Labor's second-best seat count in Victoria. The party recorded substantial swings in Melbourne's politically volatile eastern suburbs, which usually decide elections in Victoria.[30] As theABC's election analystAntony Green put it, eastern Melbourne was swept up in a "band of red," exceeding the most optimistic projections.[31] Labor also took a number of seats in areas considered Liberal heartland, including Baillieu's former seat ofHawthorn. It is only the fifth time that a Labor government has been reelected in Victoria.
In 2019, an independent tribunal granted Andrews an 11.8% salary increase, giving him a total salary of $441,000 and making him the highest-paid state premier in the country.[32] Andrews received praise for his leadership during the2019–20 Victorian bushfires.[33][34] Andrews faced criticism and praise from various groups for his response to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Victoria. Andrews visited China again on a trade mission in 2023.[35]
In 2018, the Andrews government oversaw the privatisation of the land titles and registry office for $2.8 billion.[36][37][38][39] In 2022, the Andrews government oversaw the privatisation of the operation of the registration and licensing part ofVicRoads.[40][41]
During his second term, Andrews led theState's response to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[42][43][44] In late June 2020, cases began to rise primarily originating from breaches in hotel quarantine.[45][46] On 20 June, with the state recording 25 cases, Andrews mostly delayed the planned easing of restrictions and reinstated stricter home gathering rules.[47] On 30 June, with the state recording 64 new infections, Andrews announced stage 3 restrictions for 10 postcodes within metropolitan Melbourne, suspended international flights and announced a judicial inquiry into the state's hotel quarantine program.[48] Andrews announced a further two postcodes would return to stage 3 restrictions and a 'hard lockdown' of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Kensington on 4 July.[49] TheOmbudsman later criticised the timing and conduct of the lockdown as potentially violating the residents'charter rights.[50][51][clarification needed] On 7 July, Andrews announced the reimposition of stage 3 restrictions for metropolitan Melbourne andMitchell Shire as the state recorded 191 new cases. Under these restrictions, residents in the affected area could only leave the home for exercise, obtaining supplies, work if it couldn't be done from home and to provide care and compassion.[52]
In early August 2020, following a spike in COVID-19 infections in Victoria with up to 750 new infections detected per day, Andrews declared a State of Disaster and announced Stage 4 lockdown rules for 31 metropolitan Melbourne municipalities and Stage 3 rules for regional parts of the state. The Stage 4 rules for Melbourne included compulsory face masks, all but essential businesses closed, residents only being allowed to leave their homes once a day to shop for essential items only, and once a day to exercise for a maximum of one hour. Both these activities were restricted to within five kilometres of home. All schooling was to be done remotely using electronic communication. A nightly curfew from 8 pm to 5 am was introduced. Exemptions existed for workers deemed essential.[53]
The restrictions correlated with a reduction in the rate of infections, such that by mid-September 2020 the 14-day case average was 44.4 rather than 63 predicted by the modelling done when they were introduced. Restrictions began to ease from that time.[54] On 26 October 2020, Victoria recorded no new cases and no new deaths, its first day of no cases since early June.[55] The achievement was called "Donut Day".[56] In 2021, further COVID-19 outbreaks in Victoria led tolockdowns being reinstated a further four times,[citation needed] with restrictions including a 9:00 pm–5:00 am curfew and 5 km travel limit reinstated for residents of metropolitan Melbourne.[57] In October 2021, Andrews was fined $400 for breachingface mask rules on two occasions, in both cases he walked through a car park at Parliament House to his press conference without wearing a mask.[58]
In April 2020, 77% approved of Andrews' handling of the coronavirus pandemic; this was the third highest figure out of all of Australia's premiers.[59] Andrews' approval ratings dropped due to the acceleration of Victoria's second wave of infections and harsh restrictions aimed at suppressing the spread of infections.[citation needed] A September 2020Roy Morgan Research poll showed that 70% approved of the way Andrews was handling his job as Premier of Victoria,[60] and a September 2020Newspoll showed that 62% agreed that Andrews handled Victoria's COVID-19 response well.[61] In November 2020, a Roy Morgan Research showed that Andrews' approval rating had increased by 9%, with 71% of Victorian electors approving of his handling of his job.[62] By the time of the2022 state election, Andrews' approval ratings had declined, but still remained relatively high, and he consistently led Opposition LeaderMatthew Guy in opinion polling throughout his term.[63][64][65][66]
During the early years of theCOVID-19 pandemic, conservative commentators criticised the Andrews' government for its introduction ofvaccination mandates, prolongedlockdowns and failures in hotel quarantine in 2020. Conservative-leaning media outlets, in particular those owned byNews Corp Australia, gave Andrews the label "Dictator Dan" because of the strict measures his government took to suppress the spread of COVID-19. His popularity remained high and the daily media conferences he gave to explain his position and reasoning were a television ratings hit.[67][68][69] Several media outlets and commentators have accused News Corp of biased reporting against Andrews, including former prime ministerKevin Rudd.[70][71][72]
Andrews led the Victorian Labor Party to a third term in a further emphatic victory over the Coalition at the2022 election. Despite heavy swings against the party in some Northern and Western suburb electorates, the party increased its majority with a net gain of 1 seat, according to ABC News. Labor picked up swings in Eastern suburbs seats which were unexpectedly won in the 2018 landslide result, and also gained the electoral districts ofGlen Waverley, Hastings and Ripon from incumbent Liberal MPs. Labor also retained the electoral districts of Bayswater and Bass, which became notionally Liberal after the redistribution.[73] Andrews also easily withstood an Independent challenger, Ian Cook, in his electorate ofMulgrave, winning more than 50% of the primary votes in the electorate.[74]
In April 2023, Andrews became the longest-serving Labor Premier in Victoria's history, overtakingJohn Cain Jr., who served from 1982 to 1990.[75] Having served more than 3,000 days as Victorian Premier as of February 2023, he became entitled to a statue in his likeness outside1 Treasury Place.[76] Andrews pledged to re-establish the state-owned State Electricity Commission, remove a total of 110 Level Crossings, establish free kindergarten and commence construction on theSuburban Rail Loop (SRL) andSRL Airport Line during his third term.[citation needed] On 18 July 2023, Andrews and Deputy PremierJacinta Allan announced the state government intended to cancel the2026 Commonwealth Games. Fifteen months after agreeing to host the Games, he said the cost had escalated to an estimated $6–7 billion, double the estimated benefits, and the government could not justify the expense.[77] A later Victorian Auditor-General report found the abandoned games cost Victoria more than $589 million and that the government's estimated cost had been overstated.[78][79] Andrews also set up a process that continued under his successor, Jacinta Allan, to formulate a treaty forFirst Nations peoples in Victoria.[80]
At a media conference on 26 September 2023, Andrews announced his resignation as premier, leader of the Victorian Labor Party, and member for Mulgrave, to take effect the following day at 5:00 pm. He cited thoughts of life following his premiership, which he felt meant "it is time to go".[81] Prime ministerAnthony Albanese said he was "surprised by the date of the resignation" and praised Andrews's career and character.[82] Other current and former state premiers congratulated Andrews on his premiership.[83] Andrews was succeeded as premier and party leader by his deputy Jacinta Allan aftershe was elected unopposed by the Labor caucus.[84]
At 1.30 pm on 7 January 2013, Andrews was in a car being driven by his wife, when there was a collision with 15-year-old Ryan Meuleman who was riding a bicycle.[85][86] Police closed an investigation with a finding that there was no driver error and a later anti-corporation investigation into the police, cleared them of any wrongdoing.[86][87][88] During the COVID-19 pandemic, conspiracy theorists, far-right activists, pandemic lockdown opponents, conservative commentators from theHerald Sun and political opponents from theVictorian Liberal Party, alleged that Andrews or his family were at fault and that there has been a cover up.[72][87][88]
On 18 October 2024, Andrews was appointed as the chair of Orygen, a youth mental health foundation.[89]On 3 September 2025, Andrews attended the2025 China Victory Day Parade among other current and former world leaders.[90][91] Since his retirement from politics, Andrews has been establishing a consultant business with links to China, including working forFortescue Metals. This attendance drew criticism from theAustralian media and some senior Labor figures for attending the parade, questioning the appropriateness of his involvement. Andrew's successor as Victorian premier,Jacinta Allan, expressed support and said that it is important to maintain Victoria's positive relations with China.[92]
Andrews has been a member of theLabor Left faction since he joined the party in 1993.[9] Having been an advocate forenvironmentalism andclimate change, he supported the pledge fornet zero emissions by 2050,[93] and has started plans to renationalise the state electricity grid following the2022 state election. Andrews has furthermore been a long timerepublican, and supports abolishingAustralia's constitutional monarchy in favour of afederal republic.[94]
Andrews has voiced support throughout his career forsame sex marriage, the protection and expansion ofLGBT rights and the promotion of awareness and respect fortransgender and transitioning people, particularly amongst young Victorians.[95] On 24 May 2016, Andrews issued a formal apology on behalf of theVictorian Government, to the LGBT community, and specifically members of the community who had been charged with homosexual offences and crimes in the state prior to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1981.[16][96] Premier Andrews said in a speech to theVictorian Parliament:
"On behalf of the parliament, the government and the people of Victoria: for the laws we passed, and the lives we ruined, and the standards we set, we are so sorry; humbly, deeply, sorry."[97]
Andrews, who is Catholic himself, has also been an outspoken critic of the Catholic Church in Australia, for their failure to adequately respond to extensive issues relating tochild sexual abuse. On the death of Australia's most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, Andrews remarked that his government would make no offer for a state funeral and instead made the following statement:
"For victim-survivors, [I want] to send the clearest possible message: We see you, we believe you, we support you and you're at the centre of not only our thoughts, not only our words, but our actions."[98]
Andrews has somewhat conservative views towards illicit drugs, being against the decriminalisation of recreational marijuana,[99] and also against pill testing at music festivals.[100]
Andrews married Catherine Kesik on 31 December 1998. They live inMulgrave with their three children.[101] Andrews had aRoman Catholic upbringing, although he rarely attends church.[69] Andrews is a supporter of theEssendon Football Club.[102]
On the morning of 9 March 2021, Andrews slipped and fell on wet steps while on holiday on theMornington Peninsula. He was taken to hospital where he was placed under intensive care. He suffered several broken ribs and a broken vertebra from the fall. Deputy PremierJames Merlino was the Acting Premier until Andrews returned on 28 June 2021.[103][104] Andrews contracted COVID-19 in March 2022. He continued to carry out his duties from isolation, and made a full recovery.[105]
As part of the2024 King's Birthday Honours, Andrews was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia for "eminent service to the people and Parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development."[106]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
| Victorian Legislative Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| District re-established | Member of the Legislative Assembly forMulgrave 2002–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister for Consumer Affairs 2006–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Gaming 2006–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Health 2007–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Leader of the Opposition of Victoria 2010–2014 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Premier of Victoria 2014–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria 2010–2023 | Succeeded by |
.svg)
