Susie O’Brien: Daniel Andrews’ long silence over his accident was disrespectful to Victorians
Andrews has slammed the “vile stories” surrounding his accident, but the rumours started because of a vacuum created by the Premier himself.
Susie O'Brien
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More than 100 days after the accident that nearly claimed his life, Premier Daniel Andrews has finally told the Victorian people what really happened.
I am pleased to hear the full story, but we deserved to hear more about it months ago.
In a clip released on Sunday – complete with music soundtrack and feel-good family footage – Andrews described his fall on stairs in Sorrento.
He also gave an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun’s Grant McArthur which went into more detail about the fall, his treatment, his doctors and his recovery.
It’s a compelling tale. However, the average Victorian voter deserved to know the detail of what exactly happened to sideline the leader of our state before now, and we were denied this chance.
His long silence feels disrespectful to the Victorian people.
In the clip Andrews took aim at the “vile stories” that have been circulating over the past few months.
He hammered the message home on Monday morning at the press conference, keen to show people that he’s getting on with the job by wearing high-viz and a hard hat.
He again dismissed the rumours about his fall, saying that there will always be “people who make up their own facts – you are best not to get in an argument with them”.
“Never get into an argument with a fool,” he said.
“Or have a debate with someone who makes up their own facts.”
But the rumours started circulating because of a vacuum created by the Premier himself.
When there is an absence of facts, rumours will come in to fill the void.
He said the stories were hurtful to his kids and used as a “political weapon” by people who he doesn’t waste his time thinking about.
He may well dismiss the rumour-mongers, but they weren’t the only ones speculating about what happened.
The Victorian people were also hearing the rumours and wondering what the real story was.
I think we deserved more explanation months ago. I don’t doubt the story he’s finally told is true, but I would have liked to hear it before now.
As he said in the clip: “I’m coming back this week, I’m fit, I’m strong, I’m healthy. I’m on the ballot next year, I’m running and I’m running to win”.
Andrews said he has been “upfront and clear”, but he’s been anything but by refusing to put the rumours to bed for months on end.
It doesn’t feel like a good start on his first day back.
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