The resignation of Daniel Andrews marks the end of a highly successful political career. Having led the Labor Party to victory in three elections, Andrews was described as a giant of Victorian politics.
Zareh Ghazarian
Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences
His approach to policy and leadership, however, were polarising, while his absence as leader may become problematic for Labor in the coming months.
Andrews became leader of the Labor Party after the Coalition won the 2010 state election. With popularity slipping for the Ted Baillieu, then the Denis Napthine-led Liberal Party, Andrews achieved a remarkable result by leading Labor to victory in 2014.
Shortly after becoming premier in 2014, he moved to scrap a major road project known as the East-West Link. The government also began work to remove level crossings across Victoria.
Andrews consolidated his power in Victorian politics when he led Labor to a comfortable win in the 2018 election. Dubbed by some as a “Danslide”, the result gave Andrews a sizeable majority in the Legislative Assembly.
