Daniel Michael Andrews (born 6 July 1972) is an Australian politician who is the 48th Premier of Victoria, a post he has held since 2014. He has been the leader of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party since 2010, and from 2010 to 2014 was Leader of the Opposition in that state. Andrews was elected member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Mulgrave at the 2002 election, and served as a parliamentary secretary and minister in the Steve Bracks and John Brumby Labor governments.[1][2] On 29 November 2014, he was elected Premier of Victoria after the ALP won the state election, defeating the incumbent Liberal government.
Early life
Andrews was born in Williamstown, a suburb of Melbourne, to Bob Andrews (1950–2016) and Jan (born 1944). His family moved to Wangaratta in 1983, where he was educated at the Marist Brothers' Galen Catholic College. Andrews moved back to Melbourne in 1990 to attend Monash University, where he was a resident of Mannix College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and classics in 1996. After graduating, Andrews became an electorate officer for federal Labor MP Alan Griffin. He worked at the party's head office from 1999 to 2002, initially as an organiser, and then as assistant state secretary.
Early political career (2002–2010)[edit]
Following his election to parliament in the Legislative Assembly seat of Mulgrave at the 2002 election, Andrews was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health in the Steve Bracks Labor government. Following the 2006 election, Andrews was appointed to the Cabinet, becoming Minister for Gaming, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs. In 2007, Andrews became Minister for Health in the John Brumby Labor government.In 2008, Andrews voted in favour of abortion law reform in Victoria.
As opposition leader (2010–2014)
Brumby resigned as leader of the Victorian Labor Party following the Labor defeat at the 2010 election, after 11 years of Labor governments. On 3 December 2010, Andrews was elected Victorian Labor Party leader, becoming Leader of the Opposition in Victoria, with Rob Hulls as deputy.[6] Hulls resigned in early 2012 and was replaced as deputy by James Merlino.
Premier of Victoria (2014–present)
Labor held 43 seats at dissolution, but notionally held 40 after the redistribution of electoral boundaries. It thus needed a five-seat swing to make Andrews premier. On election night, it won seven seats for a total of 47, a majority of eight. In his victory speech, Andrews declared, "The people of Victoria have today given to us the greatest of gifts, entrusted to us the greatest of responsibilities and bestowed upon us the greatest of honours."He was sworn in as premier on 4 December.
On winning office, Andrews government cancelled the East West Link project and initiated the level crossing removal project and the Melbourne Metro Rail Project.
On 24 May 2016 Andrews made an official apology in parliament for gay men in Victoria punished during the time homosexuality was a crime in the state. It was decriminalised in 1981.
Port of Melbourne lease
In September 2016, the Andrews Government privatised the Port of Melbourne for a term of 50 years in return for more than $9.7 billion.
Personal life
Andrews met his wife at university. They married in 1998 and live in Mulgrave with their three children, Noah, Grace and Joseph. Andrews is a self-described devout and practising Roman Catholic. As Health Minister during the passing of the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008, Andrews sought counsel from senior church clergy who advised him that the act was contrary to Church teaching. Andrews replied that he "... [did] not intend to be a Catholic health minister ... It was my intention to be a Victorian health minister".[1]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Hlls, Ben. "The Contender". The Age, 26 June 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ Daniel Andrews parliamentary profile, parliament.vic.gov.au
- ^ "Daniel Andrews rises as Coalition swept from power". The Age Victoria. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ Daniel Andrews Labor profile, ALPvictoria.com.au
- ^ "Life Vote". lifevote.org.au.
- ^ Labor's Daniel Andrews endorsed as State Opposition Leader, Herald Sun, 3 December 2010.
- ^ "Electorates". ABC News.
- ^ Victoria election 2014: Labor takes back government. ABC News, 2014-11-29.
- ^ Priess, Benjamin Gay men receive apology more than 30 years after homosexuality decriminalised May 24, 2016 The Age Retrieved May 25, 2016
- ^ "Promise Delivered: Port Of Melbourne Leased To Remove Level Crossings And Create Thousands Of Jobs". 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
External links
- Parliamentary voting record of Daniel Andrews at Victorian Parliament Tracker
| Victorian Legislative Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| District re-established | Member of Parliament for Mulgrave 2002–present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Marsha Thomson | Minister for Consumer Affairs 2006–2007 | Succeeded by Tony Robinson |
| Preceded by John Pandazopoulos | Minister for Gaming 2006–2007 | |
| Minister assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs 2006–2007 | Succeeded by James Merlino | |
| Preceded by John Thwaites | Minister for Health 2007–2010 | Succeeded by David Davis |
| Preceded by Ted Baillieu | Leader of the Opposition of Victoria 2010–2014 | Succeeded by Matthew Guy |
| Preceded by Denis Napthine | Premier of Victoria 2014–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by John Brumby | Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria 2010–present | Incumbent |
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