Daniel Andrews lawyers agree to hand over phone record from Blairgowrie crash with teen cyclist

Daniel Andrews has backed down and agreed to surrender his mobile phone records from the day of a near-fatal Blairgowrie car crash with a teen cyclist in 2013.

Daniel Andrews has backed down and agreed to surrender his mobile phone records from the day of a near-fatal 2013 car crash with a teenage cyclist.

Just hours before a scheduled 10.30am Supreme Court hearing on Monday, Mr Andrews’ lawyers capitulated and consented to the release of the former premier’s records.

The Herald Sun revealed on Sunday night that Mr Andrews had engaged one of Australia’s most expensive silks in a bid to fight a subpoena.

Philip Crutchfield KC — who charges up to $25,000 a day — was due to lead his defence before the last-minute backflip.

Associate Justice Melissa Daly was told Mr Andrews’ lawyers had a change of heart at 8.05am on Monday.

It came after the request for information was narrowed from 11 years to just the day of the crash.

The phone records must now be handed over by July 24.

Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will surrender his mobile phone records relating to the 2013 crash with a teen cyclist in Blairgowrie. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake.

Costs for preparing for Monday’s abandoned hearing were also awarded against the Andrews camp.

Mr Andrews was slapped with a subpoena outside his Mulgrave home in March requiring him to produce a series of documents relating to the day of the January 7, 2013 crash.

Lawyers for Ryan Meuleman, who was 15 when he was struck by the Andrews’ family SUV in Blairgowrie, are seeking to establish who Mr Andrews spoke to — and when — amid concerns of interference in the aftermath of the collision.

Moments after the court was informed of the backflip, Ryan’s father, Peter Meuleman, condemned the wasted expense of the hearing being abandoned.

“Our family is sick and tired of the cover ups. This has been covered up for more than a decade,” he said.

“We don’t know who was driving. We don’t know if anyone was on the phone at the time of the crash. That’s why we need the phone records.

“The police called off their investigation that afternoon.

“They let Daniel Andrews drive the car away before it could be inspected. It was unroadworthy. It had a smashed windscreen.

“They only took statements from Daniel and Cath Andrews. No-one else.

“There are four other eyewitnesses police are still refusing to take statements from. Why? What are the police afraid of?

Ryan Meuleman was 15 at the time of the crash.

Ryan’s father Peter said his family was “sick and tired of the cover ups”.

“The crash took a huge toll on Ryan. He’s still recovering to this day which is why he isn’t here. But he is getting better and we love him.”

High-profile lawyer Leon Zwier, of major law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, is also representing the former premier and wife Catherine Andrews in the marathon dispute.

Ryan’s legal team, led by barrister James Catlin, have accused law firm Slater & Gordon, which acted for him in the aftermath of the crash, of failing to conduct “a full and proper investigation into the circumstances” of the collision.

Slater & Gordon is accused of failing to act in Ryan’s best interests and breaching its duty of care and obligations to him when negotiating his $80,000 TAC compensation payout.

A trial is scheduled for May next year.

Ryan is still recovering from his injuries. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The Andrews’ have always maintained that their Ford Territory was “T-boned” by the bike, while Ryan insists that the car was “speeding” and “seemed to come out of nowhere” when he was struck 17m on from the Melbourne Rd-Ridley St intersection.

Police photographs uncovered by the Herald Sun in November 2022 showed extensive damage to the front of the Andrews’ car and its windscreen.

In April last year, the Herald Sun revealed an Ambulance Victoria report detailed how the Andrews’ SUV “struck” Ryan while “travelling at 40 to 60kmph”.

Last month, this masthead revealed police documents showed Mr Andrews did not call triple-0 until 1.10pm on January 7, 2013, with the crash estimated to have happened at 1.06pm — four minutes earlier.

There are also questions surrounding the police response to the accident, including why officers failed to use breathalysers and why Mr Andrews was allowed to drive the unroadworthy vehicle from the scene.