‘He exploded. It was nuclear’: The Andrews meltdown that silenced bickering Labor MPs

Labor MPs say Daniel Andrews erupted in anger in his final party room meeting as brawling over his old job threatened Jacinta Allan’s ascension, before a peace deal stopped a potentially months-long public factional battle in Victorian Labor.

“He lost it,” said one of more than a dozen Labor MPs who told The Age about Andrews’ final caucus meeting. The MPs, from both factions, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential party matters.

Daniel Andrews entering the caucus meeting on Wednesday, his last as premier. Credit: Jason South

Allan, sworn in as premier on Wednesday afternoon, will unveil her new cabinet next week and was not expected to conduct a significant reshuffle.

The Age has spoken to more than 12 MPs who attended Wednesday’s caucus, all of whom said the gathering was one of the most intense meetings they have endured.

As journalists waited outside, MPs from Andrews’ Socialist Left faction entered the delayed caucus meeting with Allan as their candidate for leader and Tim Pallas as deputy. Ben Carroll threatened to challenge for the leadership, after his Right faction was incensed the Left was seeking to hold both positions.

That would have resulted in a messy months-long wait to determine the new leader through a ballot of Labor Party branch members. Andrews wanted it resolved in time for his formal resignation at 5pm Wednesday, and pushed for his preferred candidate and factional ally Allan.

Sources said he was also fuming that his exit, and planned successor, were being disrupted by internal ructions.

“He went completely berserk,” one Right MP said.

“I don’t think I’ve seen him have a hissy fit like that,” said another. MPs added that Andrews swore with anger during the three-hour gathering.

“Many people hadn’t seen or heard him be as direct as that,” an MP from the Left said.

Another witness said Andrews had complained that his send-off was being clouded by party machinations, as pressure was put on MPs to back down from their support for Carroll.

“[It was] one of the most robust caucus meetings that has occurred in recent memory,” the Right MP said.

Another source from the Left said Andrews swore and said words to the effect of: “You all have a right to seek promotion, each and every one of you. You don’t have a right to bring those divisions into this room.”

“He exploded. It was nuclear,” the source added. “It was the angriest they’ve ever seen him.”

MPs from both factions said Andrews interrupted Carroll to stop him speaking while he was still threatening to challenge for leader.

“He just sat him down,” one Left MP said.

Asked to comment on what the Labor MPs said about the meeting, Daniel Andrews said in a statement: “The 49th premier was elected unopposed by the caucus, and she has my full support.” Carroll was also approached for comment.

After a bruising 24 hours, most MPs were confident of a stable government with Carroll as deputy.

Allan is expected to unveil her new cabinet on Monday, before state parliament resumes on Tuesday, after days of conversations with colleagues over the long weekend.

MPs said they did not expect a major reshuffle to avoid creating ructions early in her leadership. Pallas will remain treasurer, as Eltham MP Vicki Ward enters the ministry.

Allan’s portfolios, for Transport Infrastructure and the Suburban Rail Loop, will be passed on.

“I will continue the approach that premiers have traditionally taken, and I will only hold the position of premier,” she said. “Noting, of course, that all business of government is the responsibility of the premier and the buck does stop at the premier’s door and that’s a responsibility I intend to carry.”

Carroll, as deputy, would traditionally get his pick of portfolios. Some hoped he would receive the high-profile transport infrastructure portfolio, given he has held public transport.

“That will be the interesting question,” one MP said.

Some in the Socialist Left faction had a view the upper house leadership team needed to be realigned to satisfy Labor’s power-sharing arrangement. However, there was no broad consensus that this was warranted or would be the best outcome for the government.

One senior Labor Right figure said the caucus room battle had sent a message that the Left could not force their way into senior positions.

“We will fight fire with fire,” they said.

Allan on Thursday thanked Lissie Ratcliff and Jessie McCrone, who were chiefs of staff to Andrews, and other employees of the premier for their years of service. Both were not expected to stay on.

“I want to have respectful conversations with staff, directly with them, not through the media, about what their future is,” Allan said.

The new Labor leader was briefed by the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet on Thursday.

Allan also committed to following through with the election promises her predecessor Daniel Andrews took to the November state election before announcing his sudden resignation on Tuesday.

“I absolutely intend to deliver on that agenda that Victorians voted for. I’ve been a proud part of that team, I am now proud to continue all of that work,” she said in her first press conference since being sworn in.

“But of course, in coming weeks and months, as we swear in the new cabinet and continue the work to consult colleagues and the Victorian community, there will be the opportunity to further build on that program of work.”

Earlier on Thursday, Allan defended her record of overseeing the state’s major transport projects that have suffered a series of cost overruns and added to Victoria’s budget woes.

The state’s net debt is set to grow from about $135.4 billion by the middle of next year to $171.4 billion by mid-2027. “No one has presided over a program this big that is transforming our transport network,” Allan told ABC radio.

Allan was sworn in as the state’s 49th premier at 5pm on Wednesday, the second woman to lead the state, after Andrews announced his sudden resignation on Tuesday.

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