Jeff Kennett: Dan Andrews faces a trust problem which can only be fixed by him telling the truth

This election turns on the credibility, honesty, transparency and integrity of Dan Andrews so its time he was frank with us.

I am sure most of you who read my column will offer a sigh of relief when this election is over, and we can refocus on the things that are closer to home like family, friends and our gardens.

That said, elections are important. They only occur in Victoria every four years, so an election is the only time we can in the main pass judgment on those who we have elected to manage our state’s budget and administration.

Clearly that is an opportunity to reflect on the performance of the government of the day, because the other individuals and groups running, be they organisations such as the Opposition, other party groupings or Independents, do not have the authority to deliver programs at present.

They can talk, criticise or offer policy differences, but the truth is for the last four years there has only been one team in town affecting our lives. The Andrews led Labor Government.

This election will be a referendum on Dan Andrews more than his government. Picture: David Crosling

So, in short for many and me, this election is about the credibility, the honesty, the integrity of Andrews.

Not so much his government, because the reality is he has so controlled the agenda, and imposed his will on both the operation of his ministers and ministries.

Although the ALP is spending millions of dollars trying to attack the credibility of Matthew Guy, the reason they are doing that is an attempt to divert attention away from the scrutiny of Andrews and his credibility. His honesty, his transparency.

Put aside for a moment any policy differences I might have with this government, and the build-up of state debt.

We can all agree and differ on policies of governments and Oppositions from time to time.

Let me focus on four issues that go to the heart of Mr Andrews credibility.

THE car accident.

HIS failure to disclose at the hotel quarantine inquiry who the awarding of the security contract to a NSW firm for tens of millions of dollars that led to the death of more than 800 Victorian lives.

FULL disclosure about the “fall” or “incident” at Sorrento that resulted in him taking three months leave.

WHY it is that the Premier and or his government is involved in FOUR inquiries before IBAC the details of which we will not hear the details until after the election.

The house where Andrews fell in Sorrento.

The Andrews damaged car after their crash with a cyclist.

These four issues all involve the Premier personally, and or the way in which he has administered the state.

They are not matters made up by his political Opponents or the media. They are of his own creation or involvement.

Why are they still an issue?

For one reason only, the public increasingly feel Andrews has not been transparent, honest with us in the way he has responded to each of these incidents.

For many in the community this continual failure of transparency, refusal to accept responsibility culminates in a sense of mourning, grief, a sense of something lost, and that is trust.

We are a very civilised community, and again as I said above, we can and do, agree and disagree on issues of policy, but we generally see the best in each other.

There is an in-built reservoir of trust in all of us, one to another.

So, when events, incidents occur that give us cause to think we are being taken for granted, when we are being treated as something less than adults, it impacts on our sense of trust.

The Premier and his government have been the centre of four IBAC inquiries.

Can I make a comparison just for completeness, and so my comments are not misunderstood.

In the United States now, the divide that is increasingly apparent, is not one of lack of trust.

It is one of hate. Deliberately dividing the community between classes, ethnic groups etc.

Sadly, we have no idea where this extraordinary vengeful type of politics will end, although we have seen some appalling examples in the past around the world.

I fear we will see more of the hate politics in the US as they approach their Presidential election.

Hate is a million miles from a breakdown in trust, which we are witnessing here.

In fact, my own experiences over a life well lived is that I do not hate anyone. Everyone has some good in them and potential. Nothing educates you better than working for years with people who at times are at their lost point through mistakes, relationship, or illness.

But there is always another option, and a better option.

It is where things occur that results in you losing confidence, trust in a person, or a company, because you feel they are not telling you the truth, the whole truth.

I have that feeling about the four incidents above with Andrews.

He has totally controlled his government. Nothing happens without his sign off. Why won’t he tell us the truth?

And if he says he can’t remember who authorised the employment of the NSW security firm for managing our hotel quarantine disaster, why won’t he go and find out and tell us?

Let me close on one experience, garnered over many years.

Truth will finally come out. There is rarely a place you can hide from the truth.

So, add in the issue of service delivery, debt, potholes and any other issue you like in influencing who you will vote for in the state election.

For me the most important issue is who do you trust?

And if Andrews is re-elected will the pattern of nondisclosure, lack of transparency continue for another four years?