Danial Andrews Legacy – Challenges for Labor in Victoria

Daniel Andrews was the longest-serving premier of Victoria in Australia, who resigned recently after nine years in office. He led the state through a series of progressive reforms, major infrastructure projects, and a hardline response to the Covid-19 pandemic. He was praised by some for his decisive leadership and social agenda, but also faced criticism and protest from others who opposed his lockdown measures and political controversies. Some of his achievements include legalising voluntary euthanasia, same-sex adoption, sex work decriminalization, and medicinal cannabis, negotiating a treaty with First Nations peoples, delivering a housing policy shake-up, and building the Metro rail tunnel. He will be remembered as a polarizing but influential figure in Victorian and Australian politics.

Andrews has been a polarizing figure in Australian politics, praised by some for his progressive agenda and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, but criticized by others for his authoritarian style and controversial decisions. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights of his political career.

Progressive reforms: Andrews led a Labor government that delivered several landmark policies that advanced social justice and human rights in Victoria. His government legalized voluntary euthanasia, gave same-sex couples equal adoption rights, decriminalized sex work and delivered a safe injecting room. Victoria was the first jurisdiction to negotiate a treaty with First Nations peoples. He also apologized on behalf of the Victorian government to gay men and women convicted under anti-gay laws and to victims of institutionalized child-sex abuse.

Big Build: Andrews invested heavily in infrastructure projects that aimed to improve public transport, roads, schools and hospitals in Victoria. He announced the Suburban Rail Loop, a 90km orbital line from Melbourne's southeast to west, and funded the construction of the Melbourne Metro rail project. He also cancelled the controversial East West Link project that would have built a toll road across Melbourne.

COVID-19 response: Andrews faced the biggest challenge of his premiership when Victoria was hit by a devastating second wave of COVID-19 in 2020, largely due to failures in the hotel quarantine program that he ordered an inquiry into. He imposed a strict lockdown for metropolitan Melbourne that lasted 112 days, the longest and harshest in Australia. He faced fierce opposition from some business groups, media outlets and anti-lockdown protesters who accused him of violating civil liberties and destroying the economy. However, he also won praise from health experts and many Victorians for his decisive and effective leadership that eventually eliminated community transmission of the virus. He continued to manage the pandemic with a cautious approach, imposing snap lockdowns and mask mandates whenever new outbreaks occurred. He also introduced pandemic-specific laws that gave him extended powers to declare states of emergency and public health orders.

Controversies and scandals: Andrews was not without his critics and detractors, who often labelled him \"Dictator Dan\" or \"Chairman Dan\". He faced several controversies and scandals during his tenure, such as the misuse of taxpayer resources by some Labor MPs in the 2014 election campaign, the branch-stacking allegations that led to the sacking of minister Adem Somyurek, the resignation of health minister Jenny Mikakos over the hotel quarantine debacle, and the ongoing investigation into his fall down stairs that left him with serious injuries.

Andrews leaves behind a legacy of progressive reforms, ambitious infrastructure projects and strong pandemic management, but also a divided public opinion and a polarized political landscape.

Victoria, the second-most populous state in Australia, has a new premier now: Jacinta Allan. She was elected by the Labor Party caucus on September 27, 2023, following the resignation of Daniel Andrews, who had led the state since 2014. Allan is the 49th premier of Victoria and only the second woman to hold the position, after Joan Kirner in 1990-1992.

Allan, 51, has been a member of the Victorian Parliament since 1999, representing the regional seat of Bendigo East. She became the youngest woman ever elected to the state legislature at age 25, and the youngest minister at age 29. She has held various portfolios in successive Labor governments, including education services, regional and rural development, public transport, major projects and transport infrastructure. She was also responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006, before they were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a close ally of Andrews, Allan served as his deputy leader and was widely tipped to succeed him when he announced his decision to step down on September 26, 2023. He cited personal and family reasons for his departure, saying he had begun to think about what life would be like outside politics. Andrews had faced intense scrutiny and criticism for his handling of the pandemic, especially during the state's prolonged lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. He also suffered a serious injury in March 2021, when he fell down some stairs and fractured his spine and ribs.

Allan was elected unopposed as the new premier by the Labor caucus, with Ben Carroll as her deputy. Carroll is a former union official and lawyer who has been the minister for public sector reform, crime prevention and consumer affairs. He belongs to the right faction of the party, while Allan is from the left faction. The pair will lead a team of 22 ministers, with some reshuffling expected in the coming days.

Allan has vowed to continue Andrews' legacy and agenda, saying she will build on his plans for economic recovery, health reform, social justice and climate action. She has also promised to be a leader for all Victorians, regardless of their background or location. She said she was honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as premier and thanked Andrews for his mentorship and friendship.

Allan faces several challenges as she takes over the helm of Victoria amid a pandemic that has claimed more than 1,500 lives in the state and caused significant social and economic disruption. She will have to manage the transition out of lockdowns and restrictions as vaccination rates increase and cases decline. She will also have to deal with ongoing tensions with the federal government over funding and policy issues, as well as internal party dynamics and public expectations.

Allan will also have to prepare for the next state election, due in November 2026. The Labor Party currently holds a comfortable majority in both houses of parliament, but recent opinion polls have shown a narrowing gap with the opposition Liberal-National coalition. Allan will have to convince voters that she is a capable and trustworthy leader who can deliver on her promises and vision for Victoria.

New premier Allan, has been a loyal deputy to Andrews and a key member of his cabinet, holding portfolios such as transport, infrastructure and the suburban rail loop. She has also been a strong advocate for women's rights and equality, and a vocal supporter of Victoria's Covid-19 response.

But Allan faces some significant challenges as she takes over the reins of power. She will have to deal with the ongoing pandemic and its economic and social impacts, as well as deliver on the ambitious infrastructure agenda that Andrews set out. She will also have to manage the factional tensions within the Labor party, which flared up during the leadership transition.

One of her first tasks will be to reshuffle her cabinet and appoint a new treasurer, after Tim Pallas announced he would step down from the role. She will also have to prepare for the next state election, due in November 2026, and fend off any challenges from the opposition Liberal party, which has been struggling to gain traction under its leader Matthew Guy.

Allan has said she will build on Andrews' legacy and continue to deliver for all Victorians. She has also promised to be consultative and collaborative with her colleagues and stakeholders. She has received congratulations and support from her federal counterparts, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.

Allan is widely respected and admired within the Labor party and beyond, and many Victorians are hopeful that she will lead the state with vision, compassion and integrity.

Note: Views and opinion mentioned in article are writers own and should be taken as such.

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