Daniel Andrews revealed he will step down as Victorian premier, and the nation’s highest-paid state leader, after having a serious discussion with his family.
Mr Andrews called a snap press conference in Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon to announce the end of his nine-year career as state leader, effective 5pm Wednesday.
The father-of-three was supported by his wife Catherine and sons Noah and Joseph, as he suggested the role of premier had cost him valuable time with his family.
‘It requires 100 per cent from you and your family, that of course, is time-limited and now is the time to step away,’ he said.
Mr Andrews did not give any hints as to what his future career might look like, but it’s unlikely he’ll need to find a new job any time soon.
Dan Andrews walks away from his final media conference as Premier supported by wife Catherine
Daniel Andrews has been married to Catherine for 25 years. They have three kids, Noah, Joseph and Grace
In his final months in office, Mr Andrews managed to secure a 3.5 per cent pay rise which lifted his annual salary to $481,190 – up more than $16,000 from 2022.
He will also reap the benefits of a historic pension scheme for MPs elected before 2004, which could see him awarded millions upon retirement.
Mr Andrews owns a $1million property in his electorate of Mulgrave, on the Mornington Peninsula – where he slipped on a step and broke part of his spine during a weekend away from office in 2021.
He then famously used his 111 days in Covid lockdown between March and June of that year, which his government enforced, to refinance his mortgage for the third time in two years.
The first was to fund an extension in 2018, when cash rates were at a record low of 1.5 per cent. By the time he refinanced again, rates were down to just 0.1 per cent.
The couple reportedly bought the property for $251,000 in 2002.
His resignation came as a surprise because it was only last year that Mr Andrews was re-elected until 2026.
The Premier was flanked by his his wife and two sons Joseph and Noah at the snap presser
In November, he shared a photo of his wife on Twitter during his campaign for a third term in office – he captioned the post: ‘Campaign day one – with my number one.’
In the photo, Catherine could be seen gazing adoringly at her husband-of-25-years, while dressed in high-vis and surrounded by news cameras.
Mr Andrews thanked his wife and his children for their support over the years during his resignation announcement.
‘To my family, to my mother and father, to my sister, I couldn’t ask for more,’ he said.
‘Cath, she is my best friend and none of this was remotely possible without her support, her guidance and her love. Noah, Grace and Joseph, they know only politics that has done this. For all the matters meant, thank you. You are everything to me.’
During his press conference on Tuesday, Mr Andrews said: ‘Today I will again visit Government House and resign as Premier and member for Mulgrave, effective 5pm tomorrow.’
‘When it’s time, it’s time.
‘I have always known that the moment that happens, it is time to go and to give this privilege, this amazing responsibility to someone else.
‘It is not an easy job being premier of our state, but that is not a complaint – that is just fact.
Mr Andrews’ legacy includes a massive – and expensive – infrastructure program, the eradication of level crossings on Victorian roads and an enormous state debt of $135.4 billion next year.
The Andrews family live on the Mornington Peninsula, in a home worth more than $1million
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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