Jeff Kennett: Why I feel for Dan the man but not the leader
On a personal level, I have empathy for the pressure Daniel Andrews must be feeling from public scrutiny during this pandemic but professionally, the Premier has failed Victorians on a massive scale and he must be held accountable, writes Jeff Kennett.
Opinion
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Accountability is such a simple aspect of life. Sadly, for some it seems almost impossible to accept.
Let me start with an acknowledgment I have made previously. I pursue good governance relentlessly, in business, at not-for-profits, sporting organisations and when in government. My pursuit of Premier Daniel Andrews is not personal, it is about accountability for a failure of good governance.
I have some understanding of the pressures Daniel is under, and the impact it is having on his family. In one sense they are innocent bystanders. That is a consequence of public life. When things are going well, everyone celebrates; when the going gets tough, it is often those around you who suffer most.
The endless public commentaries, cartoons and criticisms … I have been there.
When you enter political service, you are aware you will be subject to the pressures of public office. That said, never has the scrutiny of one’s every word, act and deed been so intense. The one significant difference today from my period as premier in the ’90s is the impact of social media. It is immediate, intense, often biased and works on an insatiable 24/7 news cycle.
Long gone are the days, early in the television era, when former premier Henry Bolte used to invite the political editor of the afternoon paper, The Herald, to his office for morning tea to give him the story that then ran in the evening.
So on a personal level, I have empathy for what Daniel Andrews and particularly his family is experiencing.
On a professional basis, I have absolutely no sympathy.
What Victorians are experiencing now is of Daniel’s own making. As head of government, he has always exercised total control over his party and government.
He does not have friends within the cabinet or party — colleagues, yes; friends, no. He does not have a “kitchen cabinet.” A group of ministers with whom he sits at the end of the day, to share a drink, chew the fat, even watch the news. He is a loner professionally.
There are so many aspects of the Victorian government’s response to COVID-19 that proves this has been Daniel’s way or no way. Sadly, it is causing despair for Victoria and so many Victorians and will for Daniel.
Two important developments came from the Premier’s press conference on Monday. One was regarding COVID-19 restrictions, which were originally going to be lifted by scheduled dates. This was changed to the moving target of reducing the number of cases below five per day. Now it is back to dates.
Businesses and the public have been preparing themselves to reopen, to return to a more normal life several times, only to have the goalposts continually moved. The inconsistency of messaging has been appalling and harmful.
But the most important comment by the Premier on Monday was along the lines that given the number of new cases we are recording each day, it “might be as good as it gets, and we might have to live with that”. That is a complete change from the course being pursued by the Premier and his Gang of Eight up until Monday.
Even though it was originally stated we were pursuing a strategy of containment, it became one of elimination. Curfews, 5km limits, iron ring borders within the state, business closures etc.
In stating “this might be as good as it gets”, the Premier is admitting his policy has failed. He has destroyed thousands of businesses and brought untold pressure on individuals and families when he could have pursued policies like those enacted in NSW. Instead he assumed he knew best and was only focused on a health solution, not a balanced community response.
Sadly, on Monday he maintained that if we eased restrictions too quickly “the virus will spread, our hospitals will be overflowing beyond capacity”, and the federal government will not be standing at his side then.
Rubbish! Our hospitals have been dramatically under-utilised to date, elective surgeries for thousands have been delayed. Our health system is well prepared for future outbreaks. Of course, there will be outbreaks as there has been and are in other states, but better contact tracing, and quick action can address such outbreaks.
There might always be outbreaks until and if a vaccine is found and then universally available. That could be one or two years away or never. So you have to manage the virus.
What was clear on Monday was the Premier now recognises the failure of his policy direction. This is on top of his administrative failure of hotel quarantine, which got us into this situation.
The community is becoming increasingly restless at best, but many are angry at the impact on their livelihoods and the removal of their ability, with precautions, to move around the state and country as they wish.
Of course, this is also having tragic economic effects on the hospitality, retail and entertainment industries. It is as though the Premier has no concept or concern about the extent of the damage his management is rendering on so many. If not for federal JobKeeper and JobSeeker subsidies, the state would already be economically and emotionally devastated.
So professionally, Premier Andrews has demonstratively failed. He must be held personally accountable. The buck stops with him.
Have a thoughtful day.
Jeff Kennett is a former premier of Victoria