‘Ridiculous politics’: Daniel Andrews survives motion for him to stand down

A motion calling for Daniel Andrews to stand aside has been defeated, hours after the Victorian Premier slammed attempts to oust him.

A motion calling for the Victorian Premier to stand down pending the outcome of IBAC investigations has been defeated.

Daniel Andrews avoided having to step aside after a vote of 20-12 against the motion.

However, Adem Somyurek and Kaushaliya Vaghela – both ousted Labor MPs – voted against the Premier staying in the top job.

Mr Andrews earlier on Tuesday labelled the push for him to stand aside as “ridiculous politics”.

A senior Liberal frontbencher introduced a motion to parliament for Mr Andrews to stand down over an Independent Broad‑based Anti‑corruption Commission (IBAC) investigation.

Operation Sandon is looking into alleged “serious corrupt conduct” regarding Casey council’s planning and property development decisions, with The Australian revealing last week that Mr Andrews was privately questioned as part of the investigation.

David Davis, who leads the opposition in the upper house, introduced the motion on Wednesday.

Liberal MP David Davis introduced the motion. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Paul Jeffers

But Mr Andrews was direct with his criticism when responding to the motion.

“It’s ridiculous politics. Again, it’s all those people (the Liberal Party) offer,” he said.

“The only people these people work for are themselves, and Victoria is not stronger because of that.”

Mr Davis called Mr Andrews an IBAC “frequent flyer” after introducing the motion, saying it was the “safest course” for all Victorians if he stood aside.

“There is a cloud over the Premier,” Mr Davis said.

“I don’t remember a time when a premier had to go to IBAC twice.”

The motion called for Mr Andrews to “to stand aside from all official responsibilities” until IBAC’s report on Operation Sandon was tabled in parliament.

It also said he should “not participate in any executive or administrative decision-making” during this time.

Mr Davis will also move another motion in parliament over any potential communication between Mr Andrews and property developer John Woodman.

Mr Woodman is being investigated as part of Operation Sandon for allegedly corrupt land deals, with Mr Andrews reportedly asked about his association with the property developer by IBAC.

John Woodman during 2019 IBAC hearings. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

If parliament agrees to the resolution, all emails and other correspondence since December 4, 2014, between Mr Andrews or the Office of the Premier and Mr Woodman, his employees and companies would need to be tabled within three weeks.

It was revealed last month that Mr Andrews was also grilled in secret as part of another IBAC investigation called Operation Watts, which is looking at the alleged misuse of public resources and branch stacking by Labor MPs.