Steve Price: Daniel Andrews’ time is up. Victoria needs new political talent, now.

Daniel Andrews’ rambling defence of his role in the latest anti-corruption inquiry has proved he is out of control – and that Victoria is in dire need of new political talent.

Premier Daniel Andrews’ hour-long rambling defence of his role in the latest IBAC inquiry should convince all Victorians his time is up.

Refusing to even consider the findings of Operation Daintree and its secret investigation into a $1.2 million contract to union mates was a very bad look. It should be the last straw.

This bloke is arrogantly out of control and his own party must start thinking of pushing him into retirement as quickly as possible to retain any political goodwill they have left.

Compare the snarling “how would you know” smackdown of media questions about corruption with the charm offensive put on by his South Australian counterpart Peter Malinauskas last weekend.

Victoria deserves a Premier like the South Australian, he’s humble, smart, honest, and clearly a good bloke. Andrews could only dream about such personality traits.

Andrews’ is out of control and its up to his party to reel him in. Picture: David Crosling

Maybe It’s time Victorian politics copied the idea behind the AFL draft and put in a bid for him.

Poaching footy talent from interstate clubs for Melbourne based AFL teams has always been the quickest way to get better.

Why not in politics!

South Australia has been a lucrative hunting ground over the years. Just think Stephen Kernahan, Craig Bradley, John Platten, Darren Jarman and of course the great Malcolm Blight and more recently Nathan Buckley.

Given the mess the State of Victoria and its Budget is in maybe its time we copied the AFL and start playing the political poaching game.

We could even set up a draft identifying new political talent.

Rookies showing political promise as teenagers should be drafted into Melbourne universities.

Seriously!

Someone with a great political radar in the South Australian Labor Party must have spotted Malinauskas very early in his career.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas was best on ground during Gather Round. Picture: Emma Brasier

The Labor Premier was everywhere last weekend steering the first AFL gather round- staged in Adelaide- and was clearly best on ground.

The two interviews I heard from him on 3AW, first with the footy broadcasting crew on Saturday, and then with Neil Mitchell on Monday, were so impressive a stream of talkback callers heaped praise on him straight after.

Most – including Mitchell himself — suggested a future career in Canberra and others lamented the fact he was running SA and not Victoria.

He was honest answering uncomfortable questions, unlike his Victorian counterpart, who arrogantly refuses to talk about anything he doesn’t want to.

I know Victoria’s salary cap is the biggest mess in the nation – think $10 million a day just in interest payments – but surely, we could afford to make Malinauskas an offer he couldn’t refuse.

The SA Premier will predictably say he’s a proud South Australian and loves Adelaide but so did Kernahan and Bradley, before Carlton pulled out the cheque book.

To continue with the footy analogy, Dan Andrews’ best days are behind him.

An ageing, and seen by many as a despised figure, he must surely see, like the great Tigers star Trent Cotchin, that the end is near.

No one would be surprised – or even that upset – with just five months gone of his record breaking third term, and due a bronze statue, if Andrews pulled the pin and retired to the golf course.

Jacinta Allen might be next in line for the throne but she’s got dirty hands as well. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Victoria though is too important to simply apply the old rules and install Dan’s favourite in the top job.

Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan might be very capable political operator, but she’s got dirty hands when it comes to the state Victoria finds itself in.

We have that crippling debt and massive infrastructure projects are over budget and hopelessly running late or it seems on the verge of being delayed or cancelled.

As reported in this paper, the often-promised airport rail link now looks doomed to another decade or more of incompetent mismanagement.

Socially we have a shortage of police to control law and order, the health system post Covid is running on empty, the ambulance service is overstretched and the lack of public housing is forcing people onto the streets with crippling waiting lists.

Building companies are collapsing by the day and other states are outdoing us on major events. It’s time we used the footy poaching talent in politics.

Let’s get creative and give all Victorians the sort of political leadership we are desperately crying out for.

The cult of Chairman Dan might have suited some during the dark days of Covid – I thought his lockdowns were disgraceful – but surely, it’s time for a change and some new blood.

Labor’s not even the worst when it comes to untalented leaders at the top.

If State Labor is akin to a sliding Richmond – three grand final victories in six seasons – then the Victorian Liberals are North Melbourne.

Sadly, there is no obvious Liberal anywhere in Australia that would make the draft impact of the SA Premier but clearly the current Victorian playing list is unelectable.

The Liberals have now been rolled all over the country and have no talent left to revive them. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

That probably says more about the state of the Liberal movement and local branches and its damaged brand, they simply are bereft of any shining talent anywhere.

Dead in WA, thrown out in NSW, unknown in SA with some glimmer of hope in Queensland next year the only bright spot.

Federally they are set for at least two if not three terms in Opposition and if the Voice referendum succeeds there will be civil war again on the leadership front.

I know this is fantasy football dressed up as a political wish list, but Victorians really are being cheated out of a bright future by the lack of creative recruiting by the State branches and head offices of both sides of politics.

Victorians deserve better and politics can learn a lot from elite sport in identifying, nurturing and picking the right talent.

Installing political insiders who’ve never had a real job or run a business employing people just means we keep repeating the same old mistakes.

We had a good run with Jeff Kennett, Steve Bracks and John. Brumby but those premiership years seem a long time ago.

Victoria has bottomed out.

Lidia Thorpe was caught shouting profanities at a group outside a Melbourne strip club in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Thorpe scored a life ban for her behaviour out the front of the strip club. Picture: Gary Ramage

LIKES

King Charles 111’s coronation quiche recipe.

Maxine’s Gentlemen’s Club in Brunswick and the life ban for Senator Lydia Thorpe.

Gather round and the AFL decision to leave it in Adelaide.

Sensible sports decision in basketball over Trans players.

Dropping public drunkenness laws on Melbourne Cup Day a joke.

DISLIKES

Dumb decision to drop public drunkenness laws starting Melbourne Cup Day.

The AOC booting Olympians out of the village after their events finish.

Music tracks being played after every goal in the AFL a silly American idea that doesn’t work.

Impossible 20 km/h speed limits in the city while e-scooters can do what they want.