THE nation’s highest honour awarded to former Premier Daniel Andrews must be revoked, according to Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh, who has launched an online petition.
The decision to recognise Mr Andrews with the Companion of the Order of Australia in this year’s King’s Birthday honours list, for his service to Victoria, public health, policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development, sparked widespread backlash last week.
The Nationals leader called for the support of Victorians to have the “inappropriate and unjustified” honour removed by the Governor General.
“Mr Andrews failed Victorians, and by extension Australians, with his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and we are all still paying the price,” Mr Walsh said.
“Melbourne was left floundering in lockdown for a total of 262 days – the longest in the world – under Mr Andrews’ draconian laws.
“Mr Andrews also oversaw a bungled and ill-conceived hotel quarantine program that cost the lives of almost 800 Victorians.”
Mr Walsh said Victorians had been left to pick up the pieces … “now burdened with record debt because Mr Andrews couldn’t manage money”.
“Since the start of Mr Andrews’ reign as Premier, Labor has slapped Victorians with 55 new or increased taxes and charges,” he said.
“Under no circumstances should Mr Andrews retain the Companion of the Order of Australia.”
But his successor has backed the decision to make him a Companion of the Order of Australia.
“This is an entirely appropriate and important recognition of the enormous contribution Daniel Andrews and his family have made to public life,” Premier Jacinta Allan said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese passed on his congratulations to everyone who made the honours list, and was quick to point out the independence of the panel that decides the awards.
“I welcome everyone who received honours, and congratulate all of them,” he said.
“The processes are there, independent, at arm’s length from government.
“Both Daniel Andrews and Mark McGowan were very successful, from the people who matter to their respective states, in Victoria and Western Australia.”
The petition is online at The Nationals Victoria website at https://vic.nationals.org.au/no-award-for-dan/
