Former Premier Daniel Andrews has controversially received the nation’s highest honour for his service to Victoria despite presiding over deadly Covid errors, imposing the world’s longest hard lockdown and leaving the state with crippling debts.
The award – the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) – has been slammed by families of pandemic victims after 768 people died due to the Andrews Government’s botched hotel quarantine program and bungled contact tracing.
Mr Andrews, who has never properly owned up to any of his mistakes, was one of just six Australians to be awarded the AC as part of this year’s King’s Birthday honours.
The longest serving Victorian Labor premier was recognised for his “eminent service to the people and parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development”.
Daniel Andrews has been awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). Picture: Penny Stephens
News of his award, officially announced at 10pm on Sunday, leaked out on social media last week, prompting widespread anger and discussion in political and civic circles.
The office of Australia’s Governor-General David Hurley refused to reveal who nominated Mr Andrews, but a spokesman said the Council for the Order of Australia – an independent body of 19 people – gave the final recommendation on who should be given the award.
The council is chaired by KPMG partner Shelley Reys AO and its Victorian representative is the state’s top bureaucrat, Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Jeremi Moule.
Mr Moule was appointed to the premier’s department by Mr Andrews.
Herald Sun
