Virginia Trioli calls out Victoria Premier Dan Andrews live on ABC radio

Daniel Andrews went on ABC radio under what appeared to be the condition politics would not be discussed, and host Virginia Trioli called him out on it.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has appeared on ABC radio – requesting politics not be discussed, despite it being just six weeks until the state election.

And veteran journalist Virginia Trioli called him out on it.

Andrews was the first guest on Trioli’s Mornings program on Friday, appearing on the show to update listeners about the flood situation in the state.

The Premier only agreed to the interview as the ABC is considered the default “emergency broadcaster,” according the The Australian’s Media Diary.

And all was going well until it was time to wrap up the interview.

“Now look Premier, you’ve requested not to be asked about policy or politics today, you say out of respect to those who are dealing with the floods, but it has been, I just checked, almost a year to the day when you were last in this studio or on this show for an interview,” Trioli said.

“Can you give an assurance to the listeners that you will be back here for a proper in-depth interview within a couple of weeks?”

Daniel Andrews has appeared on ABC radio but politics was not discussed. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Geraghty

Sounding surprised, the Premier responded: “Um, well I can’t give you a time Virginia but I’m always happy to sit with you. I wish we were talking under much more favourable circumstances.”

“You could if you’d like to,” the radio host shot back.

“Well I could, but then it might not mean much because then I might have flood issues to deal with or something else to deal with, but I’m always happy to speak with you. You absolutely know that,” Andrews said, refusing to be locked into an interview.

“We do keep requesting, Premier,” Trioli said.

Floods in Rochester, Victoria where one person has died. Picture: Jason Edwards

“I wish we were speaking today under more favourable circumstances,” Andrews repeated. “But today is not a day for politics.”

“But you’ll come back soon?” Trioli pressed one last time.

“Yeah, sure. More than happy to be back,” Andrews said before changing the subject back to the floods for his sign-off.

The Victorian state election is set for November 26 – just under six weeks away.