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While there has been speculation about Daniel Andrews’ imminent retirement for some time, when it came, it was still a shock. Yesterday, the Victorian premier announced that after nine years at the helm of the state, he will stand down at 5pm today.
So what will Andrews’ legacy be? Professor of Politics Paul Strangio says Andrews leaves office a titan of Victorian politics, an enormously consequential leader and one of national significance. He has been an activist and politically assertive premier, pursuing a gargantuan infrastructure program and progressive social agenda that has transformed the state.
He hasn’t been without controversy, of course. There have been numerous scandals such as the so-called “red shirts” affair and, more recently, the debacle of the cancelled 2026 Commonwealth Games. A gifted political communicator, Andrews has also at times chafed at being held accountable, and when under pressure tended to double down, taking a “nothing to see here” approach.
But he leaves office the fourth-longest serving premier in Victorian history, and having well and truly stamped his mark on the state. Whoever takes the helm after him - widely touted to be his deputy, Jacinta Allan - faces economic challenges, including ballooning infrastructure spending. But more than that, they will need to deal with the vacuum left by Andrews, who for so long has been such a dominant figure in his party and the state.
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Amanda Dunn
Politics + Society Editor
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Paul Strangio, Monash University
An activist premier, a gifted political communicator and a hard man of politics, Dan Andrews has been an enormously consequential leader and one of national significance.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is stepping down after nine years in the job.
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Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham; Tetyana Malyarenko, National University Odesa Law Academy
As the war nears 600 days, there are signs that support for Ukraine could be beginning to waver in some parts.
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Jacob Prehn, University of Tasmania; Joselynn Baltra-Ulloa, University of Tasmania; Justin Canty, University of Tasmania; Kate Vincent, University of Tasmania; Milena Heinsch, University of Tasmania
The Voice to Parliament referendum is bringing about harmful discussions, affecting First Nations people. There are ways to support better wellbeing during this time.
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Amber Gwynne, The University of Queensland
Celebrities have long employed ghostwriters to help them tell their life stories. But their involvement in creating celebrity children’s books and novels is more recent – and more controversial.
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Dale Mitchell, University of the Sunshine Coast
You might want to think twice before hiring Harvey Specter or Annalise Keating as your lawyer. The more accurate depictions of legal practice on TV might not be where you think.
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Helen Dickinson, UNSW Sydney
The new Quarterly Essay weaves personal history and detailed policy analysis, examining the unintended consequences of the NDIS, and how we can best realise the scheme’s original intent.
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Melinda Jackson, Monash University; Hailey Meaklim, The University of Melbourne
It turns out people who sleep well and those who sleep poorly have different kinds of thoughts before bed.
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Politics + Society
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Bruce Wolpe, University of Sydney
What we are already hearing today from those leading the “no” campaign is an echo chamber of Trumpist sentiments for his supporters and acolytes in Australia.
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Christiane Gerblinger, Australian National University
The Australian Public Service stands at a crossroads where policy effectiveness hinges on its willingness to stare into the abyss of policy language.
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Health + Medicine
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Shidan Tosif, The University of Melbourne
Recognition and support from health-care professionals are essential for a fast and full recovery from long COVID.
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Science + Technology
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Alan Labas, Federation University Australia; Benjamin Matthew Long, Federation University Australia; Dylan Liu, Federation University Australia
We can’t entirely eliminate food waste – but we can find cheap ways to turn it into something useful.
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Ben Fulcher, University of Sydney
There are hundreds of ways to analyse interactions in a complex system. A new study shows how they can all work together.
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Eleanor K. Sansom, Curtin University; Nick Timms, Curtin University
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has delivered pieces of asteroid Bennu, which scientists hope will offer a window into the early era of the Solar System billions of years ago.
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Environment + Energy
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Olaf Meynecke, Griffith University
If a whale comes across a patch of kelp, it may well start playing with it. This practice may also be useful to rid whales of unwanted passengers.
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Priya Kurian, University of Waikato
New Zealand’s Greens have undoubtedly succeeded in some policy areas, including climate and housing quality. But the party continues to battle internal tensions between idealism and pragmatism.
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Liz Conor, La Trobe University
You might look at the task ahead of weaning ourselves off fossil fuels and despair. But we’ve changed energy sources many times before – and it’s never a straightforward process.
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Education
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Pi-Shen Seet, Edith Cowan University; Janice Jones, Flinders University
As part of the new employment white paper the federal government has announced it is thinking seriously about a national skills passport.
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Business + Economy
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Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
30 years ago, Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating adopted an ambitious official target for Australian unemployment. The Albanese government just passed up a historic opportunity to go even further.
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