Daniel Andrews hits back at ‘fragile’ John Pesutto, refuses to engage in live debate

Daniel Andrews has lashed out at John Pesutto’s call to face off against him in a public debate, saying the Opposition Leader is “not relevant” to the work of the government.

Daniel Andrews has lashed out at John Pesutto for a second time this week, rejecting the Opposition Leader’s call for a public debate and calling him “fragile”.

Mr Pesutto on Wednesday called on the Premier to “front up” to a live debate with him at the Melbourne Town Hall in front of up to 400 Victorians who could throw questions at the political leaders.

But the Premier on Thursday dismissed Mr Pesutto’s push for the pair to face off in public.

“I don’t want to mention him really. He’s very, very fragile, easily offended,” Mr Andrews said.

“He’s not relevant to the work our government does.

“He has not been elected to have any responsibilities whatsoever.”

On Tuesday the Premier also took a swipe at the Mr Pesutto over his decision to vote no in the Voice referendum, calling him “meek”.

“If you support the First Peoples Assembly, then logic tells you that he’d be just as equally supportive of the Voice,” he said.

“This is his position, as confused and meek as it as it is.

“This is not leadership.”

Opposition Leader John Pesutto says Dan’s comments about him have been ‘really strange’. Picture: David Crosling

The Premier says John Pesutto ‘couldn’t run a bath’. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Mr Pesutto on Wednesday said the idea for a series of forums was sparked because of Mr Andrews’ recent personal comments about him.

On Tuesday, Mr Andrews accused the Liberal leader of voting no in the Voice Referendum to protect his job, claiming he didn’t have the internal authority to vote the way he wanted.

And last week, Mr Andrews said Mr Pesutto had also embarrassed himself by spending “every waking moment bagging Victoria”.

“They’re just focused on themselves, they’re a nasty little rabble and (Opposition Leader) John Pesutto couldn’t run a bath,” Mr Andrews said.

Mr Pesutto on Wednesday said the Premier’s recent focus on him was “really strange”.

“He’s had a lot to say about me over the last week ... Maybe we’d be better off if he spent less time focusing on personal observations about me, and perhaps joining me in talking about some of the issues that matter to the Victorian people,” he said.

“Let’s actually open this up to the people. Let’s do something that engages the people a bit more, and if he wants to use a platform like that to make personal observations, he can knock himself out.

“People can turn up, they can ask questions and they can hear from both of us.

“I think that’s a better way for the Premier to engage with me. I have no desire or interest in personal reflections on the Premier.”

Mr Pesutto said the forum could give Victorians a chance to discuss matters like the Commonwealth Games, the housing crisis and planning laws.

He flagged that future debates, including in regional Victoria, could follow.