Jeff Kennett: Time for the truth about the conspiracies that have protected Dan

Ray Shuey’s report into the Dan Andrews crash found the Andrews’ version of events “implausible”. Now he joins a conga line of people the former premier has thrown under the bus to protect himself.

Last week when more evidence was reported in this paper about the failure of normal police procedures that followed Daniel Andrews’s car accident, which almost killed a young man, on the Mornington Peninsula in 2013, Andrews responded with his normal trademark rejection, this time of “appalling conspiracy theories”, and a typical personal attack on the late Dr Raymond Shuey AM, a former Assistant Commissioner of our Victoria Police force.

Let me deal with that first.

Ray Shuey was a highly respected member of our police force. He was appointed Assistant Commissioner by a Labor government.

On retirement he served overseas and here because of his excellent reputation. He was highly respected for his impartiality and professionalism. At his funeral, four former Police Chief Commissioners attended, as well as current Chief Commissioner Shane Patton.

Andrews attacking Shuey was cowardly, but tactical.

Shuey’s report into the failings of the police force in letting Andrews leave the scene of the accident without the police following normal procedures, including breath testing Andrews after he had been eating and drinking at a local sailing club.

Ray Shuey was a highly respected member of our police force.

Shuey’s investigations found “the version, as provided by Catherine and Daniel Andrews, is considered improbable and implausible”.

The only conspiracy that appears to have been done is not against Andrews but by him and sadly one or more members of our police force.

No other citizen would be able to leave the scene of such a major accident, so quickly, without the police following normal procedures even before young Ryan Meuleman had been picked up by an ambulance.

Shuey now joins a conga line of people Andrews has thrown under the bus to protect himself.

The late Jane Garrett, Jenny Mikakos, Gavin Jennings and 800 Victorians who died while Andrews oversaw hotel quarantine, and when asked at the royal commissino of a salient point, you had your great lapse of memory with the reply: “I don’t remember”.

You don’t remember when it suits you, Mr Andrews.

Misuse of taxpayer money in the Red Shirts exercise which you fought to the High Court using taxpayers money and lost.

Let’s not forget your accident, falling down two steps on to grass, which caused you such serious injuries. Again, Andrews is being protected by friends and members of his staff and some in our emergency services.

With one exception Andrews can’t be trusted.

Shuey now joins a conga line of people Andrews has thrown under the bus to protect himself. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

He did say he would not honour the signed contract by the previous government to build the East West Link project.

He did honour that, and on gaining office in 2014 promptly tore up the contract saying it would not cost Victorians a cent.

Sadly, he was wrong. It cost us Victorians more than $1.1bn for which we got absolutely nothing. No freeway, no road, no footpath, no potholes repaired. Nothing except more debt.

The Meulemans are suing their former lawyers Slater and Gordon because the Meulemans believe Slater and Gordon did less than a professional case in representing their interests.

Slater and Gordon, a well-known Labour legal firm, where today the chairman is one of the brains behind the Suburban Rail Loop, James Mackenzie.

The Meulemans are to be congratulated for continuing to have the truth be established, and we the public must support them to take the case to court.

And then there’s the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games. He promised and then reneged.

The Meulemans’ court case must go ahead in the public interest. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Andrews easily could have brought the Games back to Melbourne and avoided all the cost overruns.

But no, just cancel, and now Victorians are going to partly fund the Commonwealth Games being staged in 2026 in Glasgow. Victoria is the butt of jokes around Australia and in all Commonwealth countries. How can you trust anything Andrews says?

Last today, the extraordinary infrastructure build, all at once, mismanaged, and late on delivery, that is going to cost generations of Victorians for decades.

At his last caucus meeting, when trying to secure the deputy Leadership of the ALP for Tim Pallas, his authority was challenged, he exploded saying “what have I done to deserve this?”

Well Mr Andrews, you have destroyed the state’s economy, the people are hurting as never before, and you have for your entire time as premier attacked others for seeking the truth for your behaviour.

The Meulemans’ court case must go ahead in the public interest. The public is entitled to know the truth about the conspiracies that have protected Andrews to date.

Maybe that’s why Andrews’ mates rushed to have him receive Australia’s highest civilian honour before the truth became public.

But then, I know of cases where an honour given has been withdrawn. As it should here.

Don’t believe a word Daniel Andrews says.

Jeff Kennett is a former Premier of Victoria

Originally published as Jeff Kennett: Time for the truth about the conspiracies that have protected Dan