Latest news with #DanAndrews
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
New files reveal how Dan Andrews allocated $6.5million in taxpayer dollars to boost the Voice as support plummeted across the country
Dan Andrews' Labor government invested millions in the Yes campaign at the eleventh hour of the failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum. In September 2023, three weeks before Australians' cast their vote, funds budgeted to support Victoria's pathway to Indigenous Treaty were reassigned. Briefing files, revealed by the Herald Sun on Wednesday, found the state government approved the reallocation of $6.5million to boost the 'Yes' campaign - as part of a movement from governments in all Australian states and territories. In February 2023, each committed to the National Cabinet's Statement of Intent, supporting a national, constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament. Former Victorian assistant treasurer Danny Pearson approved the 'reprioritisation' of funds which was signed off by then-minister for treaty and First Peoples of Australia, Gabrielle Williams, on September 25. In the fortnight leading up to the referendum on October 14, support for the Voice plummeted to 34 per cent, reaching its lowest ebb. But the funding was not used and was re-allocated back to the Treaty process. 'The Victorian Government did not spend any money on the Commonwealth Voice referendum,' a state government spokesperson said. In that crucial period, a Newspoll conducted by The Australian found the 'No' vote outnumbered the 'Yes' case in every demographic category. Warren Mundine, who strongly advocated for the No campaign, told the Herald Sun the approval of the funding was a 'disgrace'. 'It was quite definite that the Voice was going to be thrown away,' he said. 'The Victorian government are happy to just leak money.' The First Peoples Assembly of Victoria declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. The revelation comes as discussion of The Voice was reinvigorated this year. Foreign Minister Penny Wong claimed in April, during her first podcast interview, that there will one day be a Voice. 'I think we'll look back on it in 10 years' time and it'll be a bit like marriage equality,' Senator Wong told the Betoota Talks podcast. 'I always used to say, marriage equality, which took us such a bloody fight to get that done, and I thought, all this fuss. 'It'll become something, it'll be like, people go "did we even have an argument about that?"' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly dismissed the notion of holding another referendum.
AU Financial Review
22-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Coalition or no Coalition, Libs should do a deal on environment laws
This week's nightmare, otherwise known as the Victorian state budget, was a timely reminder of how bad a government can become in the prolonged absence of a decent opposition. Although the Victorian Liberals have begun to lift their game, they rendered themselves unelectable for much of the past decade with their selfish squabbles and idiotic culture wars, while Labor, first under Dan Andrews and then Jacinta Allan, seamlessly managed the place into economic oblivion.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Dan Andrew's surprising next move after he was rejected by TWO prestigious golf clubs in his home state
Dan Andrews has finally been accepted at a ritzy Melbourne golf course following several failed attempts to branch out from his own club. Melbourne golfers were outraged by the Victorian government's ban on the sport during lockdown, despite it being in the open air with large distances between players and providing a rare outlet for exercise. Andrews, who led the state through Covid and earned the nickname 'Dictator Dan' for making Melbourne the world's most locked down city, has been trying to play more golf since resigning as premier. His attempts to play at clubs other than his own Kingston Heath have been rejected, including the Mornington Peninsula's Portsea Golf Club and Moonah Links, despite the help of his high-profile friend and property developer Mark Beck. The list of clubs with a 'Dan Ban' have kept growing, with members of the National Golf Club, also on the Mornington Peninsula, banding together to write a letter to the club demanding Andrews not be allowed to join. On Friday, however, Andrews was able to play at the Commonwealth Golf Club in Oakleigh thanks to a members' swap event. But one golfer remained skeptical of Andrews' presence on the fairway. 'The one time is fine (but) I don't know if I would like to see him out here a lot,' he told the Herald Sun. Another said he 'wasn't too fussed' about Andrews playing there. Mr Beck has previously defended Andrews' attempts to gain memberships at other courses. He said the refusal to accept his mate at Portsea was 'ridiculous', and the former premier had 'worked his guts out for the state' and 'just wants to play golf'. 'I can't believe how small-minded people can be,' Mr Beck said. 'You can't just ban people because of their political beliefs.' And it's not just golf clubs banning Andrews. Daily Mail Australia revealed in December that ex-AFL star Paul Dimattina, who runs popular South Melbourne venue Lamaro's Hotel, had barred Andrews from the venue. Mr Dimattina said Andrews was 'easily the most hated person' in Victoria as it was revealed multiple restaurant owners had refused service to him and his wife Cath. 'No hope Mr Andrews would get a seat at my pub,' Mr Dimattina told this publication. 'If he walked in and sat down the Lamaro's crowd would be disgusted if they saw him. Mr Andrews is hated because of his whole anti-business stance. 'The trail of destruction Mr Andrews left is still being felt today: small businesses closed down, endless lockdowns, critical healthcare neglected, children missing out on school. He didn't help anyone.'
Sky News AU
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews axed from Melbourne's elite Moonah Links Golf Resort after desperate stunt to sneak into club's membership
Former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has been kicked out of one of Melbourne's prestigious golf clubs on the Mornington Peninsula, after finding a backway to sneak into the membership. The Daily Telegraph reported last week Mr Andrews was able to weasel his way into the Moonah Links Golf Resort with the help of his trusty and billionaire friend Max Beck. It is understood Mr Beck, who is a Foundation Member at the club, made the venture possible by switching out his wife's name on a membership, and replacing her with the former Premier. The stunt led to collective outrage and backlash from golf enthusiasts who have low tolerance for Mr Andrews due to his controversial leadership during the pandemic. On Thursday, Moonah Links Golf Resort released a statement on their social media officially announcing Mr Andrews' departure from the club. 'Moonah Links Golf Resort wishes to address recent public speculation regarding former Premier Daniel Andrews,' the golf club wrote. 'We can confirm that Mr Daniel Andrews is not a member of Moonah Links Golf Resort. "Moonah Links continues to focus on providing a world class golfing experience and supporting events that promotes sport, tourism and community development.' It has been a tough few years for Mr Andrews who ended up in the bad books of the golfing community after imposing a strict golf ban on the Mornington Peninsula during Covid-19. In 2023, Mr Andrews was engulfed in another golf debacle after he tried to join the Portsea Golf Club, which was met with harsh opposition from members including former radio broadcaster Steve Price. Upon learning of the retired Premier's request for membership, Mr Price made a blistering threat to the club to quit his membership if Mr Andrews was let in. 'This is the premier who stopped us playing golf for two years during Covid,' Mr Price previously told Sky News Australia. 'This is the premier who locked down this community even though we're 120km out of the city. 'The same premier who let people on the other side of the bay play golf. No way that should that man come into the golf club. 'If Dan Andrews is allowed to join the Portsea Golf Club, I'll quit, I'll resign, I'll tear up my membership and I'll go and play golf somewhere else." At the time of his retirement as leader of the Victorian Labor Party in 2023, Mr Andrews said in an announcement that he wished to spend more time with his family and on the golf course. However, the politician's desire for leisure activity in Melbourne's bustling golf scene has been met with resistance since.
The Guardian
28-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
I'm not old enough to vote but for as long as I can remember Antony Green has been the only one to watch on election night
The first election I remember vividly was Victoria in 2018. I would have just turned 11 years old and Dan Andrews was on his way to a second-straight victory. The only man to watch for results? Antony Green. At this time I was still – of course – just gaining an interest in the news, politics and especially elections. I sat down on the couch with a notepad and wrote down all 88 seats in the lower house, then proceeded to colour-code each seat with one of those four-colour pens. The only place for me to get information that night was from watching the ABC's broadcast and quickly scribbling down a new result every time the hosts went back to Green. I was still seated by the time he made his election call several hours later. Only adding to the thrill for 11-year-old me was the fact that my local MP, John Pesutto, was on the ABC's panel as results for the seemingly safe Liberal seat of Hawthorn came in and he lost his seat on-air. Watching Green solidified my interest in the news and five months later I launched the channel known today as 6 News Australia. That of course didn't end my interest in Green's broadcasts and it wasn't long before I was watching him on federal election night in 2019 as the Morrison miracle unfolded. What really kept me watching (and I imagine I'm not the only one feeling this way) was just seeing someone explaining results so clearly – a huge contrast to some of the spin that we see on election-night panels. But it also helped explain terms that are now part of my election-related lexicon – swings, two-party-preferred, donkey votes – all basic now, but not when I was 11. Green played a crucial role in shaping my understanding of Australian elections and I know for a fact that that applies to many other people my age as well. When he announced his retirement this week the first person I heard it from was a schoolmate. In a time when fewer and fewer young people are consuming traditional media Green has been a constant for Australians of all ages during election season. Although presenting on 6 News has remained my focus on election nights, I'm open in saying that I will have the ABC election broadcast showing on another monitor, and all our other journalists will be watching as well – waiting for that final call. I also wouldn't be surprised if that's the case with all other newsrooms across the country. Something I believe has been under-appreciated about Green's work is the stuff that's not on air. This extends to extensive local, state and federal election guides, seat profiles and results analysis. In an age of increasing misinformation and disinformation about how Australian elections work – something Green himself has dealt with daily in tweets – having him as one of several clear, trustworthy sources to debunk lies is unbelievably important. He will still be working behind-the-scenes on election-related projects, which is great news for everyone looking for accurate data about how we vote as a nation. While I won't be old enough to vote at this year's federal election, I feel confident in saying I'll be able to go into the voting booth for the 2026 Victorian state election – eight years after I first tuned into one of Green's election broadcasts – and be informed on my vote. I'll still be presenting 6 News election coverage this year but I can't say no to tuning into his final broadcast either. And I won't be surprised if we see a federal 'Division of Green' show up in the future. Leo Puglisi is chief anchor and managing director at 6 News Australia
