Speculation Daniel Andrews may resign this year - Sky News Australia

John Pesutto is predicting Daniel Andrews will quit politics this year, as he questions what the long-serving Premier’s legacy will be.

The Opposition leader has raised concerns Mr Andrews has “checked out” amid dire projections for the state’s burgeoning debt level.

Earlier this year it was projected that Victoria’s net debt is set to soar to $171.4 billion in the financial year of 2026/27, which is around the time of the next election.

In a wide-ranging interview with 3AW, Mr Pesutto was probed about how he would manage the state’s finances if elected in 2026.

He warned that the full extent of Labor’s policies won’t be realised until then, citing various debt projections he’s seen.

“I’m not pretending, and I don’t want your listeners to think you can go in and click your fingers and it’s all fixed,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“The damage will be deep, it will be long lasting, and it raises serious questions about what Daniel Andrews’ legacy will really be when he leaves office.

“Probably this year. Everything suggests that he’s checked out.”

Mr Andrews has been Premier since December 2014 having led Labor to three consecutive election victories, the most recent being in November last year.

If he stays to until the 2026 election, he will become the second longest serving Victorian Premier, behind the Liberal Party’s Sir Henry Bolte who served for 17 years.

In June, just weeks after Mark McGowan suddenly resigned as premier of Western Australia, there was increased speculation that succession planning was underway for Victorian Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan to take over from Mr Andrews.

But the 51-year-old swiftly shut down those rumours, insisting he works "seven days a week" and revealed his determination to get on with the job adding there was "a lot more to do".   

"I think there's been a story or two in some gossip columns. Do I really need to tell you that gossip shouldn't be believed?" Mr Andrews said in response to speculation about his future. 

Mr Pesutto was also pressed about his own future during the interview, and whether he will step down if the Coalition loses the Warrandyte by-election.

“Look, let’s just get to Warrandyte, I want to win that for the party and for the people of Warrandyte,” he replied.

“As Opposition Leader, everyday you have to bring your A-game. It doesn’t matter whether it’s that day or the next day or the previous day.”

Warrandyte will be a major test for Mr Pesutto’s leadership, given the pressure he has been under since taking over from Matthew Guy after the state election defeat.

The Liberal Party has selected Nicole Werner - who unsuccessfully ran for the Box Hill electorate last November - to contest the seat at the by-election.

Warrandyte - which overlaps the federal electorates of Deakin and Menzies, held by Liberals on narrow margins of just 0.2 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively - has been Liberal-held since 1988.

The date is exactly nine months on from the 2022 state election, which saw the Liberal Party retain the seat with a margin of 4.3 per cent.

The by-election will be held on Saturday, August 26.

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2023-07-17 04:48:48Z
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