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Daniel Andrews will step down as Victorian premier after nine years in power, announcing he will resign from the job and as member for Mulgrave on Tuesday.
The premier made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon at a snap press conference organised with just 40 minutes’ notice.
Andrews assumed office in December 2014 and led the Victorian Labor Party to a third term of government at last year’s November state election.
Premier Daniel Andrews has been asked to face questions over the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games at a federal inquiry.Credit: Wayne Taylor
Andrews thanked his staff and his deputy leaders for their support over his time in the job, and made a special tribute to Treasurer Tim Pallas, who has been in his leadership team for nine years.
He also thanked Labor members and supporters for their support to him.
“I’ve made my mind up in the last few days,” he said.
Andrews said being premier was a defining feature of his life. He said he would visit the governor today and his term in office will end at 5pm tomorrow.
“You never want to get to a place where you resent this job, this amazing privilege,” he said.
“I am worse than a workaholic. Every waking moment is about the work. And there’s only so long you can do that.”
The outgoing premier thanked his wife Cath and his three kids for their support over his time in politics.
“I came to the decision very recently. I was very keen to get the housing statement done,” he said.
Andrews said he knew as got to the final stage of the housing statement that it would perhaps be the last big reform that he did.
The premier was asked if his 2021 back injury, which caused him to miss several months of work, contributed to his decision.
“Perhaps you have not ever really understood this about me… I’ve never complained about the fact we had to deal with fire and flood and a one in 100 year pandemic, that is the job,” he said.
Andrews said the next premier would be chosen by caucus and he will not have a vote.
He said he had told Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before the announcement, and revealed he had been “a little shocked”.
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