Bourke St tragedy: Victorians stronger than evil, criminal act — Premier Daniel Andrews

PREMIER Daniel Andrews remembers well the moment he first heard a car had been driven down Bourke St, hitting pedestrians. Here, he tells of events as they unfolded, and how we saw the very best of Victorians through the horrific crime.

PREMIER Daniel Andrews was leaving Portand after a jobs announcement when he first heard that a car had been driven down Bourke St, hitting pedestrians.

Here, he tells of events as they unfolded that afternoon, and how we saw the very best of Victorians through the horrific crime.

2pm: Portland

The first I heard about Bourke Street was when I was preparing to depart from Portland airport after a jobs announcement at the Alcoa aluminium smelter. I received a call from one of my staff.

I was told there’d been a concerning incident in the city, with a car driven down the Bourke Street footpath, hitting pedestrians. While we didn’t have all the details at that time, it was clearly serious.

CASE OF BOURKE ST ACCUSED BACK ON TRACK

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews as people mourned for victims of the Bourke Street attack. Picture: Paul Jeffers/Getty Images

3pm: Moorabbin Airport

On landing, I received the news that there had been multiple casualties, including a number of deaths. I knew at that moment that our state, our city, had been changed forever.

4pm: Official Victoria Police Briefing, Victoria Police Headquarters

It was at that briefing that I first learned details about the alleged offender. My first thoughts were — like most Victorians — how could this happen.

BUREAUCRATS BLAMED FOR DELAY IN BOURKE ST CASE

A car allegedly driven by Dimitrious Gargasoulas outside Federation Square prior to the Bourke St incident. Picture: Tony Gough

Police and emergency services at the scene. Picture: AAP Image/Luke Costin

5pm: Press Conference, Victoria Police Headquarters

I tried to put into words the shock, grief, sadness, and anger that all Victorians were feeling after the tragedy.

I said: “Our hearts are breaking this afternoon that a number of people have died, and some remain in a critical condition. We can be confident we are stronger than this evil criminal act.”

In the days that followed, I spent as much time as possible talking to the emergency services personnel who were the first on the scene. I remain in awe of their bravery and professionalism.

WITNESSES DESCRIBE CHAOS AMID BOURKE ST MALL RAMPAGE

Police in Bourke Street Mall after the tragedy. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

I also spoke to victims and the families of those who lost their lives. Their extraordinary strength and the stories of heroism from members of the public has remained with me.

This was a horrific crime, but through it we saw the very best of Victorians.

We also got to work — we set up a Night Court to reduce the number of bail decisions that needed to be made by bail justices.

We established the most comprehensive review into bail our state has ever seen, with the first part of those changes already passing the Parliament. And we have put temporary bollards across the city to reduce the risk of this happening again — an everyday reminder of the challenges we are dealing with.

A year on, we grieve for those who lost their lives, we stand in solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones, we thank those who provided comfort and support, and we rededicate ourselves to doing everything we can to stop this from ever happening again.

— Daniel Andrews is the Premier of Victoria.