Daniel Andrews has announced he will resign as the Premier of Victoria and as member for Mulgrave, effective from 5pm on Wednesday.
Andrews made the call during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, saying “when it’s time, it’s time”.
Andrews, who has been the premier of Victoria since 2014 and led the state through the pandemic years, said he made the decision to resign after talking with his family.
“Recently in talking to my kids and Cath, thoughts of what life will be like after this job have started to creep in and I’ve always known that the moment that happens it’s time to go and to give this privilege, this amazing responsibility, to someone else,” he said.
“It’s not an easy job, being premier of our state. That’s not a complaint, it’s just a fact.
“It requires 100 per cent from you and your family. That of course is time limited and now is the time to step away.”
Under his leadership, the Victorian Labor Party won its third term of government at last year’s November state election.”
Andrews said being premier had defined his life and that type of commitment had taken a toll over the years.
He said the only way he was able to do the job was by letting it “consume” him.
“I am worse than a workaholic. To a certain extent, every waking moment is about the work and that takes a toll,” he said.
“To have been premier for nine years and the leader of my party for 13 years is a greater set of opportunities than I ever thought would be afforded to me, a kid from the country with only really an aspiration to do good, to work hard, to work with teams of people to perhaps make things better.”
“You never want to get to a place where you resent this job, this amazing privilege.”
Andrews thanked his family, staff, colleagues, the union movement and public servants who he had worked with.
“To Cath, she is my best friend and none of this was remotely possible without her support, her guidance and love,” Andrews said, referring to his wife.
“To Noah, Grace and Joseph, they know only politics, Dad has always done this. For all that this has meant, thank you, you are everything to me.”