Daniel Andrews quits as Victoria’s Premier as speculation mounts about his replacement

The outgoing Victorian Premier says he’ll co-operate with a Covid inquiry and won’t discuss his replacement, as the opposition laments the mess in his wake.

Daniel Andrews has announced his sudden resignation after nine years as Premier of Victoria but has refused to be drawn on a possible successor.

Mr Andrews made the announcement just after 1.30pm on Tuesday after calling a snap press conference outside the Victorian parliament.

Accompanied by wife Cath, Mr Andrews said being Victorian’s leader was the “privilege of my life” but it “takes 100 per cent from you and your family”.

“Today I will again visit Government House and resign as Premier and a member for Mulgrave, effective 5pm tomorrow,” he said.

“It is not an easy decision because as much as we have achieved together, there’s so much more to do, but when it’s time, it’s time.

“It is not an easy job being premier of our state but it is not a complaint, that is just fact.

“I came from the country with only really an aspiration to do good. To work hard, to work with teams of people that perhaps make things better.

“Can I say to you that the moment you are not comfortable with that choice doing this job as a defining feature of your entire life … you have to step away.”

Mr Andrews said he did not want to get to a point where resented his job.

“I’ll have a bit of time off and spend some time with Cath and the kids and play a bit of golf.” Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“That would not be right and I simply will not allow that to happen.”

Mr Andrews said he had decided to resign “fairly recently” knowing the state government’s housing statement would be his last big reform.

“Ultimately once those thoughts of what it will be like after, what life would be like after this role start to creep in, you’ve got a really important choice to make.

“In terms of what I would do next, I’ll have a bit of time off and spend some time with Cath and the kids and play a bit of golf and read the pile of books that are sitting on the corner that have not been read.

‘The moment you are not comfortable with that choice doing this job as a defining feature of your entire life … you have to step away.’

“I’ll do a few things that are about me and I am going to go through what would be a fairly challenging adjustment.”

The outgoing Victorian Premier conceded he is “worse than a workaholic” while also publicly thanking his team.

“No leader has had a better set of colleagues, people who live their values, people work so, so hard for all Victorians.”

He also paid tribute to former premiers Steve Bracks and John Brumby and colleagues, deputies Rob Hulls, James Merlino and Jacinta Allan, and longtime treasurer Tim Pallas.

“Can I also make a really important point … the relationship between a premier and a treasurer is unique and I want to pay special tribute and make special mention of an outstanding person and great politician and an outstanding Treasurer in Tim Pallas,” Mr Andrews said.

“To lead the most progressive political party for 13 years has been an honour. I thank the members and its support of our party for all they have given me.”

Mr Andrews also thanked his staff, the trade union movement and his family, including wife Cath, who he described as his “best friend” and who without which “none of this was remotely possible”.

On the question of a successor, he said the next premier of Victoria will be determined by his colleagues.

“Who will be the next premier? That will be determined by the Caucus, and/or the membership of our party, from five o’clock tomorrow night I will not have a vote other than as a local member,” the Premier said.

Mr Andrews said he would respect the process that would determine Victoria’s next leader.

“ … I am not here to speculate on who (the next premier will) be and to give you my form guide or anything like that, that’ll be determined by (my) colleagues.”

‘He’s going because things are falling apart’

Victoria opposition leader John Pesutto said Mr Andrews was standing down “because things are falling apart.”

“The legacy that Daniel Andrews leaves is a state that is broken,” Mr Pesutto said in a press conference. “Victoria is broken: we know it, we see the evidence of it every day.”

The opposition leader said that Mr Andrews has left Victoria with a mounting debt of $200 billion dollars “that generations of Victorians will have to pay for and make sacrifices for.”

Mr Pesutto also said Mr Andrews’ government is responsible for the highest taxes in any state in the country, pointing out health, school and holiday taxes that have undergone changes over recent years under the Labor administration.

State Opposition leader John Pesutto. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

He also said that Mr Andrews’ reneging on the Commonwealth Games was a “hoax” and a “con”, and that during Andrews’ nine years as Premier, the Labor government has not completed any major projects in that time.

“They are all over budget, and all behind schedule, with impacts on the rest of our economy,” he said. Mr Pesutto did not give a definition on what he considered a major project during the conference.

“Daniel Andrews has made his announcement today because frankly, and regrettably, the truth caught up with him. You can only make false promises and get away with it for so long.”

Albanese ‘shocked’

Andrews says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “was a bit shocked” when he told him about his resignation.

“He wished me well and I made a really important point, I thanked him for the fact that finally at last we have a prime ,minister who might be from Sydney, but is not just for Sydney. He knows where Victoria is, he knows how to build things on how to get things done,” he said.

“He has been a dear friend of mine for nearly three decades.”

When asked if there was one thing he could do differently, Mr Andrews said he was not a regretful person and that his legacy as state leader would be for others to determine.

“I have always been focused on the future,” he said.

“If you try and be 100 per cent popular, and you are essentially scared of doing anything that might upset anybody, you get precisely nothing done and then you finish up deeply unpopular,” Mr Andrews said.

“It is for others to judge what I have done and not done and you don’t get a do over, sadly.”

He said a new premier-elect and leader of the state Labor Party would be chosen at a caucus meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Andrews described himself as a “very cooperative sort of person” when asked if he would assist in the Covid-19 inquiry.

“To the extent I can be helpful, on any of those matters, of course,” he responded to the question.

The outgoing state Labor leader also spoke on his government’s move to axe the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“We would all prefer to have a Commonwealth Games be held but … I will not take billions of dollars out of hospitals to pay for it, I do not think that’s right, not everyone will agree with that, I do not think that is right.”

‘It wasn’t Covid’

Andrews said difficult years during the Covid-19 pandemic were not a catalyst in his decision to resign as premier of Victoria.

Listing the floods that impacted the regions in 2022, fires that ripped through the state in 2020 and the 262 days of Covid-19 lockdowns, Mr Andrews said while it was not easy being Victorian Premier in recent years, he had not stepped down because things got too tough.

“Perhaps you’ve not ever really understood this about me, I’ve never complained that we had to deal with fire and flood and a one in one hundred year pandemic, that’s the job,” he said.

“Those decisions have not fast forwarded the timeline.

“I’ve done this for nine years, that’s a good long run and I’m deeply grateful.”

‘It wasn’t Covid’

Andrews said difficult years during the Covid-19 pandemic were not a catalyst in his decision to resign as premier of Victoria.

Listing the floods that impacted the regions in 2022, fires that ripped through the state in 2020 and the 262 days of Covid-19 lockdowns, Mr Andrews said while it was not easy being Victorian Premier in recent years, he had not stepped down because things got too tough.

“Perhaps you’ve not ever really understood this about me, I’ve never complained that we had to deal with fire and flood and a one in one hundred year pandemic, that’s the job,” he said.

“Those decisions have not fast forwarded the timeline.

“I’ve done this for nine years, that’s a good long run and I’m deeply grateful.”

During his time in charge, he said he had tried to do the “right thing” and not the popular thing and it was important for whoever took his place worked just as hard for Victorians.

“It’s about making sure that we have someone new to work hard every single day, to deal with the challenges we face, to keep our state strong and keep our state safe.”

Mr Andrews said his legacy was for others to judge.

“Legacy is for other people to determine … you know, I could have stood up here and done a long laundry list of things … that’s for you guys to work out, I am not in this for those reasons,” the outgoing premier said.

“That is what leadership is about – about subjecting yourself to the judgement, the almost continuous judgement of others and you know that going in, that’s what it’s about.

“And it will be for others to judge my time in parliament, my time as a local member of parliament, and also my time in different leadership roles.”

It was time for him to go: Bracks

Former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says he is not surprised Daniel Andrews had chosen to step town at this time of his career, saying the Member for Mulgrave had presided over “one of the most progressive governments Victoria’s ever had”.

“It’s the right time to go,” he said, noting that the Premier has served since 2014, now in his third term after his re-election in 2022,” Mr Bracks said.

Mr Bracks said Mr Andrews would be remembered for “developing and growing Victoria for the future”, referencing infrastructure investment to keep pace with Melbourne’s growing population. “He’ll be seen as the state builder,” he said.

Asked if Mr Andrews had made any missteps, Mr Bracks admitted that “all premiers will have certain times when they will wish they’ve done something else”, but “all the major calls, he’s done well.”

He counselled the future premier of Victoria “stay the course” when it came to the state government’s agendas and policies.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles released a statement paying tribute to outgoing premier.

“Dan Andrew’s announcement today marks the end of one of the great contributions to Australian politics,” the statement read.

“Dan Andrews is a giant.

He has led our state through some of the most difficult periods in recent history.

“His leadership both during the Black Summer Bushfires and the Covid pandemic has made us stronger and seen us get through to the other side.

“The Big Build is transforming Victoria as we know it, and every Victorian will be the beneficiary of its legacy.

“Having delivered a strong Labor majority in the state parliament three times, Dan Andrews leaves on top.

“In thanking him for his service, I wish him and his family all the best for their future.”