Coronavirus Victoria: Premier Dan Andrews refuses to resign

Victoria’s embattled leader Dan Andrews has been asked whether he’s considering resigning over the state’s coronavirus crisis but is standing firm.

Daniel Andrews has responded to critics calling for his resignation.

Asked whether he was considering stepping down from his role as Victorian Premier after the state’s coronavirus crisis, Mr Andrews stood firm.

In a press conference this morning announcing 134 new cases for the state, a journalist asked, “People are calling for you to resign. Is that something you’re considering?”.

“No, I’m not considering that,” Mr Andrews responded.

“What I’m not just considering, but delivering, is the response to this pandemic and seeing this through. That’s what’s most important and it’s what I’m going to get done.”

READ MORE: Virus number that’s worrying the experts

READ MORE: Melbourne towers a hotbed of infection

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is facing tough criticism. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Earlier this morning Today host Karl Stefanovic accused the Victorian government of being responsible for a “catastrophic bungle” that allowed the virus to spread through the state.

“You managed the bushfires. You managed the start of COVID you did an incredible job,” Stefanovic said.

“It’s difficult to recall a bigger political bungle than this. Your critics are calling for a change of leadership. Will you resign?”

Mr Andrews said he would not.

“No, Karl I’m about staying the course and getting the job done,” he said.

“Critics, that’s fine. That’s entirely a matter for them. Politics is a matter for them too. This is a pandemic and I’m getting on with the job I need to do. It’s not popular.

“They’re very, very difficult calls to be made.

“They have to be made to keep Victorians safe. We have to stay the course on this.

Mr Andrews said no-one was pleased to be in the position the state was in.

READ MORE: Premier’s fiery interview on Today

READ MORE: 700 Victorian travellers turned away

“I don’t have the luxury nor does any other Victorian to pretend the reality we face isn’t real,” he said.

“It is. That’s why we have done this.”

Victoria now has 2942 cases of COVID-19.

Mr Andrews said Victorians faced a “great challenge” over the next six weeks as the state returned to stage three restrictions.

Asked whether he thought the state had lost faith in him, he said: “I think every Victorian knows and understands this is real, serious and it’s not over. Pretending that it is will simply make a difficult situation into tragic set of circumstances. I think every Victorian knows that.”

He added: “I apologise for the inconvenience – the great challenge that many, many Victorian families are going to have to experience over these next six weeks. It’s not where we wanted to be. But we can’t go back. We can’t change those things that have got us to this point.”