Leader of Australian state of Victoria, who presided over long Covid lockdown, resigns

SYDNEY - Mr Daniel Andrews has resigned as the premier of Australia’s state of Victoria.

He cited burnout and an awareness that it is time to move on.

“Thoughts of what life will be like after this job have started to creep in. 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,” Mr Andrews said on Tuesday. “It will be up to others to judge my time in Parliament and my years of leadership.”

Mr Andrews served as state premier for nine years.

He oversaw one of the longest Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns in the world.

Mr Andrews, 51, has been a polarising figure in recent years, particularly after the long lockdown.

He was again making headlines in July 2022 when he unexpectedly cancelled the state’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games due to a cost blowout.

Mr Andrews took over Victoria’s centre-left Labor Party at the age of 38 and has served as state premier since 2014.

He won a third election in November 2022.

While Mr Andrews is regarded as a canny political operator, he has been aided by an opposition that’s struggled to connect with the electorate.

During a televised media conference, he said the job had “consumed and defined” him.

"It's not an easy job, being premier of our state. That is not a complaint, it's just a fact," Mr Andrews said.

"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. "To a certain extent, every waking moment is about the work, and that takes a toll."

Mr Andrews said lawmakers from the Labor party, which is currently in power in the federal government, would elect his successor on Wednesday.

Mr Andrews is the longest-serving Labor premier of Victoria.

His handling of the Covid-19 pandemic was criticised by some residents for the stop-start lockdowns that shut down the state capital Melbourne for a total of 262 days.

Despite the media criticism over his measures, Mr Andrews’ rating remained high as voters credited him with keeping them safe.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a fellow member of the Labor Party, praised Mr Andrews’ performance during the pandemic.

“Dan’s leadership was tested by some of the toughest times,” Mr Albanese said in a statement following the resignation.

“In the relentless pressure of a once-in-a-generation pandemic, Dna never shirked the hard decisions. He fronted up, he stood up and he did everything in his power to keep Victorians safe.” BLOOMBERG, REUTERS