Daniel Andrews revolutionary reign over Victoria marks 3000 days: This is how he did it
Despite scandals and harsh lockdowns, Daniel Andrews is on the edge of achieving 3000 days as premier and leads a government that has changed the social fabric of Victoria forever.
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On Monday Dan Andrews will earn a bronze statue to immortalise his feat of achieving 3000 days as Premier of Victoria.
In the cutthroat world of modern politics such longevity is rare, with only four others in history making that mark – the last being John Cain Jr in 1990.
Despite a horror back injury in 2021, Andrews shows no sign of slowing and will soon surpass Cain as Labor’s longest-serving premier. The Sunday Herald Sun looks back at Dan’s revolutionary rule that has changed Victoria.
GOING FOR BROKE
The phrase “don’t waste a day” is the Premier’s favourite cliche, but he’s lived up to it. The Andrews Government has been marked by a relentless pace, as well as an enthusiasm to use the state’s balance sheet to enforce change. While this has been exhausting for most inside the political bubble, and has led to concerns about financial sustainability, the strategy has ensured the premier continues to move forward and reinvent his government, and never get bogged down in scandals or controversies. Despite a precarious Budget situation post-pandemic, Andrews has baulked at calls to tap the brakes on his big-spending agenda.
VICTORIA RESHAPED – PHYSICALLY
Building city-altering road and rail projects will be a legacy of Dan Andrews, which is quite an achievement given he ripped up the contract for a multi-billion dollar project in his first few months as premier. Since the decision to dump the East West Link, the Andrews Government has embarked on a construction blitz that includes a new metro rail tunnel, two massive road tunnels, dozens of level crossing removals, and an airport rail link. Despite major cost and time blowouts on the West Gate Tunnel and other infrastructure, Andrews has ensured his government is synonymous with building things, and is about to embark on the most expensive public transport project in history – the Suburban Rail Loop.
VICTORIA RESHAPED – SOCIALLY
Andrews started slowly on social reform for fear of spooking voters in outer suburbs. Once he judged there was a political benefit, however, he embraced the progressive tag. Symbolic gestures such as marching at Pride events have been accompanied by major policy shifts in favour of LGBTI communities. His key allies in government oversaw what were once deemed radical law changes that have created a voluntary euthanasia scheme, a drug injecting centre, a medicinal cannabis industry, and the prospect of a Treaty with First Nations people. Those close to Andrews say he may not be passionate about social policy reform but the government he leads has changed the social fabric of the state forever.
THE POWER OF DAN
Known as pragmatic and ruthless – even by his allies – the premier has shown a willingness to make deals to get results. At times his ruthlessness almost brought him unstuck, such as when powerbroker Adem Somyurek was torn down in his first term or a secret sweetheart deal with the firefighters’ union was exposed. Despite constant internal and external threats, Andrews has continued to emerge on top while enemies disappeared. His power has steadily grown, helped by the suspension of the ALP rules in Victoria due to allegations of branch stacking. This gave the premier’s factional stability grouping the ultimate say over who was preselected for parliament while root and branch members were sidelined. Those out of the premier’s favour, even within his own Cabinet, are put “in the freezer”, and his circle of trust has diminished over recent years. His office is renowned for having more power than some ministers, and he’s made links with the big end of town through business kingpins such as Lindsay Fox and family.
SCANDAL, WHAT SCANDAL?
Few leaders have been able to brush aside scandal and sleaze like Dan Andrews. From the red shirts rort that saw the ALP misuse taxpayer funds for an election campaign, to a minister resigning after chauffeuring dogs around town, the premier’s default is to deny or excuse, and then push on. Many of his ministers have stepped down or been forced to resign, but Andrews has remained unflappable, leading to the nickname “Teflon Dan” – meaning nothing sticks to him. Multiple anti-corruption probes have embroiled his government and are ongoing, while a report on the politicisation of the public service, set to be released this year, is likely to be explosive.
THE CONSUMMATE COMMUNICATOR
Andrews is known across the party spectrum as one of the best political communicators in recent decades. Insiders credit his incredible memory and plain language for this, and he has rarely put a foot wrong in front of the cameras since 2014. His ability to explain things in simple terms was vital during the pandemic. Critics have taken aim at his obsession with spin and secrecy, which has grown steadily during his time in office. At a recent presentation to industry, an infrastructure executive said there were now more communications staff than engineers at the Department of Transport. While difficult to fact check, the example was used to show the incredible rise in political “comms” under the Andrews Government. His private office is the gatekeeper of information and has blocked policy progression on some issues close to elections, in a bid to keep the premier on a message that he controls.
PANDEMIC POWER PLAY
During the Covid-19 crisis, Andrews took a massive political risk by making himself the centre of the state’s health response. Even those close to him thought he had overstepped, especially when Victoria’s hotel quarantine scheme sensationally imploded, leading to 800 deaths. Andrews locked the state down repeatedly, closing schools and businesses, and ushered in a new – and probably permanent – work-from-home revolution. He held his nerve until a vaccine arrived, and pumped taxpayer cash into business and industries grappling with the crisis. While there were swings against Labor at the 2022 election in its heartland, the party retained a thumping majority and largely avoided voter retribution. But the longterm implications of the pandemic are unlikely to emerge until well after Andrews has left the political stage. One of Andrews’s legacies will be the strengthening of a widely-held belief in Victoria that if a problem emerges in society, the government should step in.
I’M STILL STANDING
In 2021, Andrews fell down stairs at a Mornington Peninsula rental property, severely injuring his back. From his hospital bed he told friends he would return, and has not slowed down since stepping back up to the top job. This term Andrews is likely to be forced to embark on the difficult task of budget repair, while there remains rampant speculation he may hand the reins to hand-picked deputy Jacinta Allan this term. Others say that given the Liberal Party is on the nose in Victoria, he may choose to fight one more election, which - if successful - which would cement him as Labor’s most successful leader in Victorian history.
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