A petition has been launched amid growing calls for Daniel Andrew’s Companion of the Order of Australia to be removed.
Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh launched the petition on Wednesday urging Governor-General David Hurley to strip Mr Andrews of his King’s Birthday honour, saying it is “inappropriate and unjustified”.
Andrews was awarded the nation’s highest honor on Monday for his “eminent service to the people and Parliament of Victoria, to public health, to political and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development”.
However, the award sparked a backlash with many Victorians criticizing the former premier because the state had the longest lockdown in the world during Covid.
Andrews also caused controversy by canceling Victoria’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games after spending just under $600 million.
The nation’s highest honor was awarded to former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured with his wife) on Monday, sparking a divisive debate.
Walsh said the former premier, who earned the nickname ‘Dictator Dan’ during Covid, had failed Victorians in his handling of the pandemic, the Herald of the sun.
He added that “under no circumstances” should Mr Andrews be allowed to keep his award.
‘We are all still paying the price. “Melbourne was locked down for a total of 262 days, the longest in the world, under Mr Andrews’ draconian laws,” he said.
‘Mr Andrews also oversaw a failed and ill-conceived hotel quarantine program that cost the lives of almost 800 Victorians.
“Victorians have been left to pick up the pieces, now saddled with record debt because Mr Andrews couldn’t manage the money.”
Melbourne spent 262 days in lockdown during the Covid pandemic. They were allowed one hour of exercise daily during the height of the pandemic.
Former Victorian Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett also added to the furor when he asked Council of the Order of Australia president Shelly Reys to explain why Andrews was awarded the honour.
“To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Andrews has not only failed to perform any eminent community service, but has also failed miserably on any objective test in the matters for which he received recognition,” Mr. Kennett wrote this week.
Kennett also believes Victorians will pay “dearly, for decades” for Andrews’ “failures”.
Former United Australia Party federal MP Craig Kelly also shared his views on X alongside several of Mr Andrews’ critics.
“At first I thought it was a bad joke, but both Dan Andrews and former WA Premier Mark McGowan received an AC for ‘Covid Leadership’ in the King’s Birthday Honours. They should both be in prison serving time “, he claimed.
Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured at a Covid press meeting) was a familiar face during the pandemic. Victoria spent a total of 262 days locked up, the most in the world, and earned the nickname ‘Dictator Dan’.