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Dan Andrews' statue mystery unfolds

<p>Melbourne is abuzz with a burning question: where, oh where, will the statue of former premier Daniel Andrews be placed? More importantly, will it capture his iconic North Face jacket-clad form, standing proud in the face of lockdown chaos?</p> <p>Yes, it appears that a bronze likeness of the man who guided (and locked) Victoria through some of its toughest years is in the works. The <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/former-premier-dan-andrews-to-be-immortalised-in-new-statue/news-story/68d37a765269a629baca12c08cc74e1c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herald Sun recently revealed</a> that the Allan government has confirmed that Dan Andrews will soon be immortalised in Melbourne, joining the ranks of past Victorian premiers like John Cain Jr, Rupert Hamer and Henry Bolte – legends who, let's be honest, didn’t have to worry about memorialising themselves in the middle of a pandemic-fuelled political firestorm.</p> <p>But the government isn’t spilling all the tea just yet. They’ve refused to say exactly where Dan's statue will stand or how much it will cost us. Will it be along the esteemed Treasury Place? Or will they go for something a little more subtle – like a sneaky placement next to a suburban train station, so you can admire his bronzed visage while waiting for a delayed train? Or even – as one disgruntled Facebook user suggested – "at the bottom of the Yarra River"?</p> <p>It's been reported that the statue could easily cost north of $100,000, but what’s a little six-figure sum when you’re eternally freezing a man in time who made your curfew 8pm sharp?</p> <p>The statute eligibility stems from Andrews' 3000-day reign as premier, a milestone introduced by former premier Jeff Kennett, who, sadly, never reached the magic number. It’s almost like Kennett set the bar just to have Dan leap right over it. We’re picturing Kennett in his living room, shaking his fist at a calendar – he could’ve been immortalised in bronze, but alas, his term was cut short. He’s now left without the joy of being a bronzed footnote in history.</p> <p>Meanwhile, sculptor Peter Corlett, the mastermind behind the previous premier statues, has been pondering what pose should immortalise Andrews. Should it be the famous “fists in the air” moment from his 2022 election victory – a rare, almost gladiatorial display of emotion for the typically stoic Andrews? Or will the statue take inspiration from his pandemic press conferences, with him wrapped in his signature North Face jacket, standing solid, as if braving the cold front of public opinion? Perhaps he’ll be gesturing towards an unseen map, locking down regions in real-time. For extra authenticity, pigeons could be programmed to circle around, completing the press conference vibe.</p> <p>While the government is busy with this monument of monumental importance, Opposition finance spokeswoman Jess Wilson has questioned whether now is the best time for such a grand expense. After all, it’s hard to be thrilled about bronze when you’re facing surging crime and hospital wait times that feel longer than the five-day snap lockdown that wasn’t so snappy. Her argument? "Maybe taxpayers would prefer a statue of a budget surplus instead."</p> <p>Of course, there are some whispers suggesting that perhaps Victoria could consider honouring a leading female figure instead. You know, just to mix things up a little in the boys’ club of bronze. But for now, Dan Andrews seems set to be cast in metal.</p> <p>So, while we wait to discover where this shiny new addition to the Melbourne cityscape will be unveiled, we can start placing our bets. Will it be along Treasury Place? Will it be out in the suburbs, standing sentinel in the middle of a roundabout? Or – dare we dream – will it be perched right outside the North Face store, ensuring Melbourne’s most iconic premier (and jacket wearer) is always in fashion?</p> <p>Let the statue speculation begin. And remember, as you ponder the deep mysteries of bronze premier placement, at least this time, you’re not in lockdown.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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Steve Price fires up over Dan Andrews' special honour

<p>Steve Price has sparked a bitter row on-air with his co-hosts of <em>The Project</em>, as he spoke out against former premier Dan Andrews being named on the King’s Honours list this year.</p> <p>Andrews, the former premier of Victoria who saw the state through the Covid pandemic, has been recognised on the prestigious list for his “eminent service to the people and parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development”.</p> <p>After the announcement of Andrews' upcoming recognition, Price let loose on <em>The Project </em>as he condemned the former premier. </p> <p>“It’s got to be some sort of sick joke,” he said as he began his rant.</p> <p>“Who would expect Daniel Andrews would get the highest honour that you can possibly get from the King? It’s the equivalent of a Knighthood! This is a bloke who locked Victoria up longer than anywhere else in the word. Apart from Covid, this bloke wasted 600 million dollars not holding the Commonwealth Games.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8B5Ft8Pe0k/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8B5Ft8Pe0k/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He continued, “Every infrastructure project he’s [Andrews] ticked off on is either over budget or over time. And we give him an award? I mean it is pathetic!”</p> <p>“I have never heard people today so angry about something like this. Daniel Andrews should be run out of the State, not given an award. It’s pathetic!”</p> <p>As co-host Waleed Aly began to share his own thoughts on the matter, Price butted in to ask, “You’re not going to defend Andrews are you?”</p> <p>“Will you let me say something?” replied Aly awkwardly, as Price nodded his head.</p> <p>“Premiers usually get these awards, but they don’t usually get them this quickly,” continued Aly.</p> <p>“And the weird thing about this is that it isn’t for services to the State, it’s for services to health. And that makes it about the pandemic disproportionately. If this was happening in a few years, I don’t think we’d be having this conversation.”</p> <p>Despite Price's claims that many were angry with the decision to award Andrews with the honour, it turns out most of the outrage was directed towards Price himself as many condemned his "embarrassing" rant. </p> <p>“What criteria is <em>The Project</em> applying to Steve Prices opinion? The short man is a self serving blowhard that has no credible platform for his opinions. Surely in 2024 there are better options in Australia,” ranted one annoyed viewer.</p> <p>A second person commented, “If it makes Steve Price mad then it’s a great decision!!” with another replying, “Like anybody should give credibility to anything Steve Price says”. </p> <p>The onslaught of remarks didn’t end there, with another firing back, “Steve Price is jealous and miserable,” while a similarly annoyed viewer wrote, “Dan living rent free in Price’s head, embarrassing”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: The Project / AMES ROSS/EPA-EFE / Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

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“Petty”: Steve Price’s bid to ban Dan Andrews called out

<p>It seems that golf, the sport known for its calm demeanour and leisurely strolls, is continuing to become a battleground for political disagreements. Move over, parliamentary debates; we've got a straight-up fairway feud on our hands.</p> <p>It all started when former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews decided he wanted to swap the political arena for the green one. Little did he know that his membership application to the Portsea Golf Club would turn into a full-blown scandal, complete with threats to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/i-ll-quit-steve-price-s-fairway-feud-with-dan-andrews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tear up memberships</a> and accusations of petty behaviour.</p> <p>The took another turn on a recent episode of <em>The Project</em>, where hosts Waleed Aly and Sam Taunton found themselves caught in the crossfire of their co-star Steve Price's golfing fury.</p> <p>The dispute centres around the fact that more than 100 club members have written a strongly-worded letter, demanding that Andrews be rejected. </p> <p>Price, the self-proclaimed defender of fairways and greens, threatened to "tear up" his Portsea Golf Club membership if Andrews gets the green light. Aly, doing his best to keep the peace, questioned Price about the gravity of the situation.</p> <p>"But why is it a big deal?" he asked Price on the panel. "If he gets admitted, you don’t have to walk around the golf course."</p> <p>Price, however, had a different concern: "I have to go into the bar, and he might be having food." Ah, the horror of sharing a clubhouse with a former premier!</p> <p>Taunton, sensing the absurdity of the situation, almost called the whole debacle "petty" before wisely biting his tongue. But Price, ever the instigator, goaded him to finish his sentence, to which Taunton finally admitted, "No,  I was going to say it is petty. It was years ago, and at some point, don’t you move on? Why?"</p> <p>Price, standing firm as the guardian of golfing justice, declared, "No. Because we don’t want him there!" It seems the only thing harder to overcome than a water hazard is a political grudge.</p> <p>In the grand scheme of things, it's a bit bewildering that a golf club membership is causing such a ruckus. You'd be forgiven for thinking they were discussing nuclear disarmament, not whether Andrews should be allowed to practice his swing in peace.</p> <p>As the world anxiously awaits the fate of Andrews' golfing aspirations, we're left to wonder: will he get the coveted membership, or will Price be left tearing up his golf club card like a rejected love letter? Only time will tell if this golfing saga will go down in history as a hole-in-one or just another bogey.</p> <p><em>Images: Network Ten</em></p>

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“I’ll quit”: Steve Price’s fairway feud with Dan Andrews

<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Steve Price, </span>the Sky News shock jock and host of <em>The Project</em>, has threatened a full-scale membership mutiny of his hallowed Portsea Golf Club, turning Victoria's Mornington Peninsula into the stage for a golf-centric feud that looks set to make more divots than a toddler with a sand wedge.</p> <p>Price has vowed to unleash the ultimate golf club warfare if former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews dares to follow through on his ambition to become a member of his beloved club.</p> <p>Price declared on <em>Sky News Australia</em> that if Andrews is welcomed into the exclusive golfing enclave, he would take his membership and tear it into more pieces than a scorecard after a disastrous round.</p> <p>“This is the premier who stopped us playing golf for two years during Covid,” Price exclaimed in much the same way one would (<em>1 wood?</em> too much) if Andrews personally walked up and confiscated his seven-iron. “No way should that man come into the golf club.”</p> <p>Former pro golfer Mark Allen joined the chorus of disapproval, claiming that other golf clubs along the Mornington Peninsula were contemplating a similar blockade against Andrews. </p> <p>The uproar stems from the dark days of Covid when golfers in certain parts of the Mornington Peninsula were banned from fairways and greens, as well as a specific restriction that allowed certain parts of the peninsula to carry on playing, while others areas were banned altogether. Andrews, in his role as the "lockdown czar", earned the ire of golf enthusiasts who found solace only on the "wrong" side of the bay.</p> <p>“Remember one side of the peninsula they were able to play and get around, the other side of the peninsula, they were not allowed to play,” explained Allen.</p> <p>In a stunning display of commitment to the cause, golf clubs were allowed to reopen in September 2021, but toilets remained off-limits, prompting golf enthusiasts to question whether they were being punked by an elaborate <em>Candid Camera</em>-style golf course edition.</p> <p>Andrews, who recently announced his retirement from politics, now plans to spend more time with his family and on the golf course. However, the threat of being ostracised from the Peninsula's golfing elite looms large, like a shadow on the putting green.</p> <p>As the turf wars intensify, it's clear that the Mornington Peninsula is not just a geographical location; it's a battlefield, where the clash of golfing ideologies may rival the intensity of a Ryder Cup final day. Will Andrews dare to follow through on his membership application, knowing the potential fallout? Will Price stick to his membership-ripping threat, or will he ultimately decide that a day on the green is more important than a political greenhorn?</p> <p>In this gripping saga of fairways and fracas, the only certainty is that the Mornington Peninsula has become ground zero for a golfing soap opera that will have enthusiasts on the edge of their golf carts, eagerly awaiting the next putt-plot twist.</p> <p><em>Images: Sky News</em></p>

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"He leaves a broken state behind him": Aussies react to Dan Andrews' resignation

<p>Victorian premier Dan Andrews has announced he will be resigning from his role after nine years in the job, prompting a very mixed response from Aussies. </p> <p>Andrews made the announcement on Tuesday, describing his time as premier as the “honour and privilege of my life”.</p> <p>For many Aussies, the news of his resignation came as a shock, with the announcement prompting a wave of mixed responses. </p> <p>Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto had one of the strongest reactions to the news, saying Mr Andrews had “trashed Victoria’s reputation”.</p> <p>“I wish Daniel Andrews well. But we have to face the facts. He’s leaving because Victoria, under his leadership, is falling apart,” he said. </p> <p>Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan also had little nice to say about the outgoing premier, claiming he made the state of Victoria “poorer” while in the top job.</p> <p>“I think he’ll be remembered as a very good politician, very good at politics, but I think, sadly, over time, his legacy is going to be one in which he made the state of Victoria poorer, and he made Victorians poorer,” Mr Tehan said via <em>Sky News Australia</em>.</p> <p>“While we wish him and his family well, the sad reality is it’s Victorians who are going to have to pick up the pieces of his nine years in charge of this state.”</p> <p>Throughout his time as premier, Andrews attracted his fair amount of controversy, particularly around his harsh stance on Covid lockdowns, which saw Melbourne go through one of the longest continuous lockdowns on the planet.</p> <p>One of Mr Andrews’ biggest critics, <em>3AW</em> host Neil Mitchell, was also thrilled to bid the premier farewell, telling him, “Let’s hope we don’t see you in public life again”. </p> <p>He told <em>3AW</em> Mr Andrews had done “enormous damage to Victoria” and claimed to have been predicting his resignation for months. </p> <p>“I reckon he’s been thinking for some time. He’s been out of sorts for months. He’s been making unusual political errors. He’s seemed disinterested, he’s snappy at press conferences. I’ve said on air for some months, ‘he’s thinking about getting out’,” Mitchell said, adding “It’s time for him to go”.</p> <p>Liberal Party powerbroker Michael Kroger argued that Mr Andrews had over the years “got away with murder”, politically speaking.</p> <p>“Record debt. Small businesses are still broken and have not recovered from these extreme measures during the lockdown,’’ Mr Kroger told <em>Sky News</em>.</p> <p>“He leaves a broken, bankrupt state behind him. That’s his legacy. The financial recklessness of Daniel Andrews is unprecedented. And will take a generation to recover from."</p> <p>“Victoria will be better for Daniel Andrews having left today.”</p> <p>Despite many harsh words from his critics, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was quick to praise Andrews' time as premier. </p> <p>He wrote in a lengthy post on Facebook that it had been a pleasure working “alongside an old friend”. </p> <p>“Daniel Andrews is a person of deep conviction, great compassion and fierce determination and he brought all those qualities to his time as Premier of Victoria,” Mr Albanese said. </p> <p>“As Prime Minister, it was a pleasure for me to work alongside an old friend – and a leader of such vision and ambition. It made a huge difference to sit at the National Cabinet table with someone who believed so deeply in the power of government to change lives for the better."</p> <p>“Nearly nine years as Premier is a remarkable achievement. Dan Andrews can be proud that he didn’t waste a minute. I wish Dan, Cath and their children all the very best for their future together.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Unseen photo of Dan Andrews slammed after gas ban fury

<p>Dan Andrews has come under fire after a photo emerged of him cooking on a gas stove, just weeks after announcing a state-wide ban on natural gas in new homes. </p> <p>The Victorian premier has been slated online after Liberal MP for Mornington Chris Crewther shared a photo of Mr Andrews cooking on a gas stove inside his home during Covid-19 lockdown in April 2020.</p> <p>“I agree with what Dan does: cooking with gas. It’s much better!” the Liberal MP wrote alongside the photo.</p> <p>“But I don’t agree with what Dan says: banning gas cooking in new homes from next year. Future cooking quality is going to go downhill!”</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCrewtherChris%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0cbvPq9wQyCJXLcfBXyPj9fucoxTvNUiaRnTYXtS35m3G1xmSPaGcyWqgGu1Q6rcJl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="658" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>Angry Victorians were quick to slam the premier in the comments of the photo, which has racked up over 6,000 comments. </p> <p>One person on Facebook said it was “proof we are truly living in a socialist dictatorship”.</p> <p>Another described Mr Andrews as a “menace”, while someone else asked “Why can’t we just have a Dan ban?”</p> <p>Slamming the new initiative, one commented wrote that “homeowners should be free to have the choice of gas or electricity”.</p> <p>The photo comes just weeks after Dan Andrews announced that from January 1st 2024, no new homes or residential subdivisions requiring a planning permit in Victoria would be connected to gas. </p> <p>The state government is dubbing the move as a measure to reduce cost of living pressures, claiming households will save up to $1,000 off their annual energy bills while reducing household emissions.</p> <p>The all-electric requirement would also apply to all new government buildings which have not yet reached design stage, including schools, hospitals, police stations and public housing.</p> <p>Despite the public backlash of the initiative, the Energy Efficiency Council applauded the decision.</p> <p>CEO Luke Menzel said “all-electric homes are all-good for Victorian families. They are cheaper to run, healthier to live in, and help lower emissions.”</p> <p>“Given the upfront costs of building an all-electric home are comparable to building a home with a gas connection, that makes going all-electric a no-brainer,’’ he said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / Getty Images</em></p>

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“You’re a flop!” Kyle Sandilands hits back at Dan Andrews’ controversial new policy

<p dir="ltr">Kyle Sandilands has called out Dan Andrews and the Victorian government, as they move to ban all new homes in the state from using gas.</p> <p dir="ltr">The state government is dubbing the move as a measure to reduce cost of living pressures, claiming households will save up to $1,000 off their annual energy bills while reducing household emissions.</p> <p dir="ltr">Upon hearing the news of the proposal, the KIISFM radio host branded the Victorian Premier “a flop” and the policy “some bull***t.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m sick and tired of everyone thinking we’re idiots,” he said on <em>The Kyle &amp; Jackie O Show</em>. “These laws are for idiots. Losers are doing these jobs.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“They will be banning Bic lighters next, we will be rubbing two sticks together to get a cigarette lit.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“That government sucks ass. That wandering eyed flop down there can’t have the Commonwealth Games because he can’t budget, now he thinks ‘’Oh, I’ll get the woke losers to vote for me by getting rid of gas’. You’re a flop!”</p> <p dir="ltr">From January 1st 2024, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions will only connect to all electric networks.</p> <p dir="ltr">To encourage new homeowners to go all-electric and abandon gas, eligible new home builders, as well as existing homeowners and renters, can access $1,400 solar panel rebates and interest free loans of $8,800 for household batteries. </p> <p dir="ltr">All Victorian households and businesses are also eligible for gas to electric rebates to upgrade heating and cooling and hot water heaters.</p> <p dir="ltr">Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said getting Victorians on more efficient electric appliances would lead to big savings on bills, while also helping to reduce emissions. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We know that with every bill that arrives, gas is only going to get more expensive,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s why we’re stepping in to help even more Victorians get the best deal on their energy bills.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Reducing our reliance on gas is critical to meeting our ambitious emission reduction target of net zero by 2045 and getting more Victorians on more efficient electric appliances which will save them money on their bills.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images / KIISFM</em></p>

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"Gross exaggeration": Sporting officials slam Dan Andrew's Comm Games spending

<p>Dan Andrews has been the subject of a blistering attack by sporting officials just hours after announcing the 2026 Commonwealth Games would not go ahead. </p> <p>The Victorian premier broke the news in a press conference on Tuesday, saying the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/i-m-not-here-to-apologise-dan-andrews-fires-up-as-comm-games-is-scrapped" target="_blank" rel="noopener">event has been cancelled</a> due to ongoing funding issues. </p> <p>He shared that the event, which was due to be held in numerous regional Victorian towns and was first expected to cost $2.6 billion, would now blow the budget out to a whopping $7 billion. </p> <p>However, following Andrews' announcement, Commonwealthh Games Australia Executive Officer Craig Phillips said the premier's cost update doesn't add up, with the $7 billion figure being a "gross exaggeration". </p> <p>“Beyond disappointing for us,” he said on Tuesday. </p> <p>“It’s a comprehensive let-down for the athletes, the excited host communities, First Nations Australians who were going to be at the heart of the Games and which millions of fans that would have embraced the sixth home Games in Australia.”</p> <p>Phillips also accused Andrews of telling misinformation surrounding the process in which the government put its hand up to host the event. </p> <p>After being confirmed to host in April 2022, planning documents showed the intentions were to establish hubs in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland, each with an athlete’s village.</p> <p>Shepparton was also planned to host events, and the MCG would have hosted the opening ceremony.</p> <p>In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, Phillips made bombshell claims government officials ignored advice to save costs by moving events to existing stadiums and facilities in Melbourne. </p> <p>Phillips also said Commonwealth Games Australia was not notified about the changed budgetary estimates until the government had already made its decision.</p> <p>He said, “The detailed budgetary implications announced today have not been sighted or discussed with the CGF or CGA ahead of being notified of the Government’s decision." </p> <p>“The stated costs overrun, in our opinion, are a gross exaggeration and not reflective of the operational costs presented to the Victoria 2026 Organising Committee board as recently as June."</p> <p>“Beyond this, the Victorian Government wilfully ignored recommendations to move events to purpose-built stadia in Melbourne and in fact remained wedded to proceeding with expensive temporary venues in regional Victoria."</p> <p>Many were up in arms over the Games being cancelled, including Victorian opposition senator Anne Ruston, who has called on prime minister Anthony Albanese to “take responsibility” for Victoria’s decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games, arguing it has dented Australia’s international reputation.</p> <p>“I say to the prime minister: Australia’s reputation has been damaged today and you should be very worried about the damage this does to Australia’s international reputation,” Ruston said. </p> <p>“This is a terrible decision for Australia but it is also very disingenuous and I think as we dig into the decision this morning, which we will do through our Senate inquiry, you will see that the Victorian government is hiding its incompetence behind a smokescreen of saying this is a budget blowout.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p> </p>

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"I'm not here to apologise": Dan Andrews fires up as Comm Games is scrapped

<p dir="ltr">Dan Andrews has fired up at disappointed journalists after making the shock announcement that the 2026 Commonwealth Games would be cancelled.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Victorian premier shocked the nation with the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday, saying the event would not go ahead due to funding issues.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said the government had considered “every conceivable option” to still hold the games, but new budgets revealed the event, which was originally tipped to cost $2.6 billion, would likely blow out the budget to $7 billion.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m not here to apologise for not spending $7bn to deliver an event,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s about, do you deliver it at any cost or not? And the answer is we’re not.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Journalists then quizzed Andrews on what the cost of abandoning the event would be, which he refused to answer but assured the costs would be “fully accounted for” at a later date.</p> <p dir="ltr">While he said he would not “speculate” on discussions, he confirmed “very little costs had been incurred to this point”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Regional Victoria were awarded the rights to host the 2026 event last year after no other countries in the Commonwealth Games Federation volunteered.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Games were set to be held from March 17th to 29th in the regional towns of Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton.</p> <p dir="ltr">Andrews went on to say the state could benefit much more from allocating the hefty multi-billion budget to other areas.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Today it’s not about finding fault with those cost estimates,” Mr Andrews said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I will not take money out of hospitals and schools in order to fund an event that is three times the cost as estimated and budgeted for last year.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Andrews said he had informed the Commonwealth Games authorities the state would seek to terminate the contract and said the subsequent meetings had been “amicable and productive”.</p> <p dir="ltr">In lieu of the Games, Mr Andrews announced the government would deliver the legacy benefits of the “housing, sporting infrastructure and tourism” benefits through other policies, using funds from the allocated $2.6 billion budget.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Dan Andrews rejects state funeral proposition for Cardinal Pell

<p>Dan Andrews has rejected the idea of holding a state funeral for the late Cardinal George Pell, saying he "couldn’t think of anything more distressing" for victims of child sexual abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church.</p> <p>Cardinal Pell, Australia's most senior Catholic, died on Wednesday at age 81 in Rome, after suffering heart complications from hip replacement surgery.</p> <p>Speaking in Melbourne on Thursday, Andrews offered his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Pell, acknowledging it would be a “sad time” for them.</p> <p>However, he said victims of institutional child sexual abuse remained “foremost” in his thoughts.</p> <p>“We see you, we believe you, we support you and you’re at the centre of not only our thoughts, not only our words, but our actions,” Andrews said.</p> <p>“We should never ever forget that predator brothers and priests were systematically moved around knowingly. It was part of a strategy from one working-class parish to the next."</p> <p>“We should never ever forget that, and we will never ever forget victims, survivors of institutional child sexual abuse at the hands of the Catholic church.”</p> <p>Andrews said there had been no request made for a state funeral service, which is funded by the Victorian government, nor would one be offered to Pell.</p> <p>“I don’t believe that there’s been a request made and these things are normally offered rather than asked for and there will be no offer made,” he said.</p> <p>“There will be no memorial service or state funeral because I think that would be a deeply, deeply distressing thing for every victim-survivor of Catholic church child sexual abuse. That is my view. I will not do that.</p> <p>“I couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Victorian man’s anti-Dan Andrews plates deemed “offensive” by government

<p dir="ltr">A Victorian man could lose his personalised number plates referencing Premier Daniel Andrews after the state government’s transport body said they had deemed them to be “offensive” and “inappropriate”.</p> <p dir="ltr">In September, Peter Dunlevie received plates that read, “DANOUT”, from VicRoads and attached them to his 2003 Commodore ahead of the state election on November 23.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Well, I want Andrews gone,” he told <em>7NEWS</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m just sick of him.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-907adc51-7fff-b3f2-85a0-ade8c73e54ba"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The plates are accompanied by other anti-Andrews messages, including stickers reading, “Save Victoria” and “SACK ANDREWS”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/danout1.jpg" alt="" width="880" height="495" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Peter Dunlevie attached plates reading ‘DANOUT’ to his white Commodore. Image: 7NEWS</em></p> <p dir="ltr">However, VicRoads has since written to the Gippsland man and told him to return the plates, writing that the plates are “negative”, “offensive” and “inappropriate”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A review of our records has identified that the combination ‘DANOUT’ has specific negative references, and may be considered offensive by the broader community,” the letter read.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dunlevie has questioned VicRoads’ assessment of the plates, telling the news outlet that it’s just “a bit of fun”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What’s offensive about them?” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is just an old bloke having a bit of fun.”</p> <p dir="ltr">While VicRoads has the authority to cancel personalised plates, Dunlevie said he felt like the transport authority was “trying to gag me”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following the letter from VicRoads, the state’s Department of Transport has begun a review into the decision to remove the plates from Dunlevie.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2976ccdd-7fff-1b07-2086-9bc20f7378ca"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7NEWS</em></p>

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Dan Andrews' Queen Elizabeth tribute backfires

<p>Victorian premier Dan Andrews has come under fire for his "tone deaf" proposal to rename a Melbourne hospital after the late Queen Elizabeth.</p> <p>The Labor Premier announced that if re-elected in November he will redevelop, expand and rename Maroondah Hospital “in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II” and “as a mark of respect to her unwavering commitment to healthcare and our community”.</p> <p>“The Queen was a longstanding supporter of Victoria’s healthcare system,” the Premier said in a statement.</p> <p>The $850 million upgrade, which includes in-patient towers housing more than 200 extra beds, a new emergency department and new operating theatres, has received mixed reactions. </p> <p>While some people have welcomed the upgrade and rename, others are upset about changing the name because Maroondah is an Aboriginal-derived name meaning “throwing leaves”.</p> <p>Dr Neela Janakiramanan, a Melbourne-based surgeon, responded to the news by writing, “Maroondah Hospital is the only hospital I can think of in Victoria with an Aboriginal name."</p> <p>“Inclusive healthcare starts from the signage on. The funding and expansion is much needed, but I hope such a beloved and inclusive name can remain.”</p> <p>Noongah woman and author Claire Coleman wrote that “NO to Maroondah Hospital renamed Queen Elizabeth Hospital”. </p> <p>She shared a change.org petition that as of Monday morning had been signed by more than 1,600 people.</p> <p>The petition explains why organisers are against changing the name “especially at this time, when the state of Victoria is undergoing the treaty process with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria”.</p> <p>It says, “This is a very regressive move and hinders building meaningful goodwill for genuine reconciliation with first nations people, on the current road to treaty and truth telling that is occurring.”</p> <p>Others on social media shared similar views, with Claire Smith writing, “Surely this decision is on the ‘wrong side’ of history and ‘tone deaf’.” </p> <p>“Bad move,” another wrote, noting that there are already hospitals in Brisbane and Adelaide named after Queen Elizabeth.</p> <p>Another person put it simply, saying, “Dan this is not a good idea.” </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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Dan Andrews accused of "victim-blaming" in spat with Rebecca Judd

<p>Victoria's premier Dan Andrews has been accused of "victim-blaming" by his political opponents, as he responded to an influencer's claim she feels "unsafe".</p> <p>Social media influencer Rebecca Judd, who is married to AFL star Chris Judd, took to social media last week to say she felt "unsafe" due to a rise in crime in the Brighton area, where she lives in a $7.3 million mansion. </p> <p>"So sick of the rapes, bashings and home invasions at the hands of gangs in Bayside," she wrote on Instagram last Thursday.</p> <p>"The state government don't seem to care. We feel unsafe."</p> <p>In response to her comments, Dan Andrews said that he was area of the rise in crime in the Melbourne suburb, with Victoria Police being utilised accordingly. </p> <p>In a press conference on Sunday, he said, "I'm also obliged to point out, though. I think there are more than 70 additional police in the Bayside area."</p> <p>"She might have missed this, others might have missed this, 502 additional sworn officers and 50 PSOs.</p> <p>"Victoria Police being properly resourced."</p> <p>Brighton MP James Newbury said the premier's comments were unacceptable, and said more should be done to curb the recent crimes. </p> <p>"No woman should be dismissed or victim blamed because they're scared after a string of home invasions in their community," he said.</p> <p>Andrews said the crime rate in the area did not reflect the influencer's concerns.</p> <p>"I'm sorry she feels that way; the data will tell a different story," he said.</p> <p>"But it is about personal feelings and your sense of safety, and I hope that knowing those things, or perhaps learning those things, puts her mind at ease."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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"I took a leap of faith": Sam Armytage opens up on life after Sunrise

<p dir="ltr">Samantha Armytage has spoken candidly about her life after <em>Sunrise</em>, and how meeting the love of her life prompted her to make some “massive changes” in her life.</p> <p dir="ltr">Armytage spoke during the launch of Dan Murphy’s new lines of rosé wine in Sydney - including Brad Pitt’s wine, Miraval Côtes de Provence.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I enjoyed the lunch immensely, the French Rosé wines we tasted were truly exceptional,” Armytage said of the event, which included a lunch and tasting of the new wines.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The only thing missing was Brad Pitt!”</p> <p dir="ltr">In her post-lunch speech, Armytage mused on the upcoming one-year anniversary of her leaving the popular breakfast show.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In a few weeks time it would have been 12 months since I made a huge move towards renewal and a massive new beginning of my own,” she <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/samantha-armytage-media-career-husband-71208" target="_blank" rel="noopener">began</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My mother used to say to us Armytage kids, ‘edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece after all’. And so finally, I did.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a312b375-7fff-18f0-e633-c80763506525"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“During my ongoing career, I’ve been placed into a huge, wonderful for the most part, highly-scrutinised, high-adrenaline, high-pressure job.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/sam-armytage-wine.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Samantha Armytage shared how she came to dramatically change her life at the launch of Dan Murphy’s new ros</em>é<em> wines. Image: Supplied</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Armytage said she began to “rethink everything” after seeing a “few sign posts” that made her realise her success was just one part of her story.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was in my 40s. I was independent, financially and emotionally. I’d made it to the top of my tree in my industry. I have nothing to prove to anyone. And it was one chapter, it was not the whole story,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now 45, Armytage said her mother’s passing in 2020, intense media scrutiny, and her home being vandalised made her realise she had “had enough”, and meeting her now-husband Richard Lavender helped her find her new path in life.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I met a divine and decent man, sweeter than the sweetest rose,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I found the love of my life at 42. How lucky am I? And I realised you do not find the happy life, you make it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">So she made “massive changes” to her life which led to her leaving Sydney for the NSW Southern Highlands.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7e9a6244-7fff-59c8-9aee-3460a4d75e01"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I took a huge leap of faith, a scary and risky move and I’m sure many more ambitious types thought I was mad. It was the best thing I’ve ever done. It gave me time, that most precious commodity,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/sam-armytage-wine1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p> <p dir="ltr">“The universe moved me towards a more honest, joyful and calm place. I found healing, proper rest, a chance to honour feelings and gave my body and mind a break.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I unfollowed negative people on social media accounts, I stopped watching negative TV. I realised I didn’t have to dominate an industry to be successful or to be number one at anything.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Armytage also reflected on the new opportunities she’s had since leaving <em>Sunrise </em>and shared how she couldn’t be happier writing for <em>Stellar Magazine</em> and working on her popular podcast, <em>Something To Talk About With Samantha Armytage</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-efcbec40-7fff-7240-b96d-df0a7d9d08c0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

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Dan Andrews lashes out at Greg Hunt

<p dir="ltr">Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/coronavirus-vic/daniel-andrews-cant-mask-fury-over-greg-hunts-school-vaccination-program-comments-c-5832371" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called out</a> Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt for “lecturing” Victorians on how to get more kids to get the jab.</p> <p dir="ltr">From 11.59pm on Friday, Victorians will no longer need to wear masks in most indoor settings for the first time in 65 days.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-506582a0-7fff-2368-f299-2e39e702da58"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">But, this rule doesn’t extend to primary schools, with students in Year 3 to 6 and teachers required to stay masked-up.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">From 11.59pm on Friday, masks can come off in most indoor settings, and the recommendation to work from home will go.</p> <p>You'll still need to wear a mask in some workplaces, rideshares, public transport, hospitals, and a few other circumstances.</p> <p>— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1495907952095801347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">After the decision prompted backlash, Mr Hunt suggested the “fastest way” to end the mask requirement was to have a school-based vaccination program.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Andrews quickly hit back at the federal minister “who forgot to place an order for vaccines” for thinking he could lecture the state “on how to get that job done”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve got arrangements in schools, we’ve run vaccination hubs and pop-ups in schools. I’ve got a Whatsapp message from the prime minister the day after I made those announcements saying it was one of the best things he’d ever heard,” Mr Andrews said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve got the prime minister saying it’s the greatest thing we’ve ever done and I’ve got Greg Hunt out there … and frankly, Victorians don’t take orders from Greg Hunt, the bloke who forgot to place an order for vaccines. Like, seriously.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re out there doing the commonwealth government’s work for them. The least they could do is not be lecturing us on how to get that job done.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Following Tuesday’s announcement on mask requirements, Mr Andrews said the vaccination rate among five to 11-year-olds, which had just passed 50 percent, needed to be higher.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d97ea0bb-7fff-65dc-5dcd-2cfd1585b958"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I’d like to see them higher and whilst they grow every day, they’re perhaps lower than we thought they would be,” he said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We've still got 7,000 cases a day, and children aged 5 to 11 currently have the lowest vaccination coverage. So this is a proportionate measure, for their protection and for ours. It won't be forever.</p> <p>My primary school-aged kids have worked masks into their usual routine. 1/2</p> <p>— Chief Health Officer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) <a href="https://twitter.com/VictorianCHO/status/1496272188269543424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">On Wednesday, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer explained the decision on Twitter, saying the rules wouldn’t “be forever”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve still got 7000 cases a day, and children aged 5 to 11 currently have the lowest vaccination coverage,” Brett Sutton wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My primary-school-aged kids have worked masks into their usual routine.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They may not always wear them perfectly every day (and some children can’t wear them at all) but overall, this is going to put downward pressure on transmission.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2c8044f2-7fff-82e5-fe5a-989dab889bf6"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">However, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy criticised the continuing mask mandate for children, saying it “doesn’t make any sense” and accusing Mr Andrews of “playing Covid politics” with kids.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Masks being kept for grades 3-6 is ridiculous and unfair on kids. The Andrews Govt needs to stop playing Covid politics with our kids. Priority should be catching up on two years of lost learning. <a href="https://t.co/lBpus2vmuc">https://t.co/lBpus2vmuc</a></p> <p>— Matthew Guy MP (@MatthewGuyMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthewGuyMP/status/1496236597318402048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Masks being kept for grades 3-6 is ridiculous and unfair on kids,” he wrote on Twitter. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The Andrews Govt needs to stop playing Covid politics with our kids. Priority should be catching up on two years of lost learning.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8a0dd5ff-7fff-a0d1-6d76-bfebebaec72d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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“Cowardly and shameful”: Dan Andrews slams vicious QR code attack

<p dir="ltr">An employee at a Melbourne bookstore has been assaulted after asking a customer to check in using a QR code.</p> <p dir="ltr">The owner of the Dymocks store on Collins Street says it was one of three incidents of aggression aimed at staff over COVID-19 compliance on Friday alone.</p> <p dir="ltr">Security footage of the attack shows the worker being shoved at the top of an escalator, before he collides with a railing and appears to fall back on his head. Franchisee Dino Traverso told 7 News that the employee was knocked out by the impact. “It’s very fortunate he’s not more seriously injured,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The employee was left “pretty shaken” by the incident, but has since returned to work. Mr Traverso said the customer appeared to have a vaccination certificate, despite reacting angrily when asked to check in.</p> <p dir="ltr">As a result of the increasing number of attacks on staff, the store has increased its security arrangements, and Victoria Police says an investigation into the incident is ongoing.</p> <p dir="ltr">Premier Daniel Andrews said that reports of staff being abused were “cowardly and shameful”, adding, “They’re just doing their job. I expect police to throw the book at anyone behaving that way.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The news comes as health authorities linked 29 cases to recent protests against vaccine mandates in Melbourne CBD. Only one case was fully vaccinated, while three had received one dose and 25 were unvaccinated. 1419 new infections were reported in Victoria on Thursday.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images</em></p> <p> </p>

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Dan Andrews' wife speaks out after vile act

<p dir="ltr">Catherine Andrews, wife of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, has spoken out after footage emerged from a protest in Melbourne featuring people making violent threats towards her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Tuesday, roughly 1000 protestors gathered outside Victorian parliament, with some threatening to take over the building and others chasing journalists. In a video posted to Twitter, one woman with a megaphone was heard saying, “I look forward to the day I get to see you dance on the end of a rope”, which was believed to be directed at the premier. A man with a megaphone yelled about taking over parliament, shouting, “If those police allow us to go through those doors and take over parliament, we will. We will lead the state to freedom.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">"If those police allowed us to go through those doors and take over parliament we will."<br /><br />🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MelbourneProtest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MelbourneProtest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QAnonCult?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QAnonCult</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/VictoriaPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VictoriaPolice</a> <a href="https://t.co/b6RsUpcgp7">pic.twitter.com/b6RsUpcgp7</a></p> — Media Analyst (@MediaAnalystOz) <a href="https://twitter.com/MediaAnalystOz/status/1460421871246069760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Tuesday’s protest follows an earlier one on Monday evening where protestors jeered when an inflatable replica of Andrews was placed next to makeshift gallows on the steps of parliament.</p> <p dir="ltr">The protests were part of a series of rallies organised against vaccine mandates and pandemic legislation that is currently before the Victorian parliament. Just last week, Andrews was<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/protestors-force-daniel-andrews-to-abandon-press-conference" target="_blank">forced to abandon</a><span> </span>a press conference in Bendigo because of police concerns about protestors’ behaviour.</p> <p dir="ltr">Cath Andrews spoke about the chaos for the first time, taking to Twitter to thank people for their support. She wrote, “We have received so many beautiful messages today from all over. Thank you. We are reminded that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. As ever #IStandWithDan #GoHigh".</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We have received so many beautiful messages today from all over. Thank you. We are reminded that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. As ever <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IStandWithDan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IStandWithDan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoHigh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoHigh</a></p> — Catherine Andrews (@CathLAndrews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CathLAndrews/status/1460515809621524484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The wife of deputy premier James Merlino, Meagan Porch, also spoke out about the violent threats and imagery, describing them as “so far over the line”. “If that was about my husband, James Merlino, I’d be calling the police to put a stop to it,” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In what world is it okay for Cath and the kids to have to stand by and watch this as if everything is okay? This is so far over the line it’s ridiculous.”</p>

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Leunig axed from The Age after 50 years over anti-Dan Andrews cartoon

<p dir="ltr">Cartoonist Michael Leunig<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/cartoonist-michael-leunig-axed-from-prime-spot-at-the-age-over-offensive-vaccine-image/news-story/3b6b99a4101ebe53df58cb21827df0d4" target="_blank">has been dropped</a><span> </span>from his position as a cartoonist for<span> </span><em>The Age</em><span> </span>over a<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/leunig-cartoon-divides-the-internet" target="_blank">controversial image</a><span> </span>comparing resisting mandatory COVID-19 vaccination to the Tiananmen Square protests.</p> <p dir="ltr">Leunig shared the cartoon on his Instagram account, with the picture depicting one of his lone ‘everyday man’ characters standing in front of a tank armed with a loaded syringe and the caption “Mandate”.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUTONJjBIHA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUTONJjBIHA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Michael Leunig (@leunigstudio)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The cartoon mimics the iconic “tank man” image of an unidentified Chinese protester standing in front of a column of tanks, with Leunig including the photo in his cartoon.</p> <p dir="ltr">The image never made it to print in<span> </span><em>The Age</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Some speculation about Leunig’s continued role at the newspaper emerged last week, after a statement published in<span> </span><em>The Age</em>’s letters section said it was “trialling new cartoonists”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845068/leunig1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c595938f095241e6bd21cebb17e03c19" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @leunigstudio / Instagram</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/peter-fitzsimons-a-closed-book-on-lisa-wilkinson-coverage/news-story/fd5acfa9e7f6dc420c38a116177c0bcc" target="_blank">The Australian</a></em>’s columnist Nick Tabakoff, Leunig confirmed that he has been taken off the newspaper’s editorial page position following the emergence of the controversial cartoon.</p> <p dir="ltr">Leunig told the publication that<span> </span><em>The Age</em>’s editor Gay Alcorn called him to “break the news gently” that his cartoons would no longer feature in the newspaper.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said he was told he was “out of touch with the readership”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Gay feels this type of cartoon is not in line with public sentiment, and<span> </span><em>The Age</em>’s readership, who it does seem are largely in favour of the Andrews Covid narrative,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But my job is to challenge the status quo, and that has always been the job of the cartoonist.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Leunig - who has had a 50-year-long career as a cartoonist - also claimed that he has had 12 cartoons “censored” this year, “all about Covid and/or Dan Andrews, with next to no explanation”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845069/leunig2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9ceb768377dd448f92bbf4b25bc454fb" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @leunigstudio / Instagram</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Leunig defended his reference to the Tiananmen Square image in his cartoon, saying it is often used as a “Charlie Chaplin-like metaphor for an overwhelming force meeting the innocent powerless individual”.</p> <p dir="ltr">It divided fans on his Instagram page, with some describing it as “brilliant” and others saying it was in “pretty bad taste”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cartoonist has shared a series of images on social media including figures in the likeness of Victorian Premier Dan Andrews, alongside critiques of politicians and the handling of the pandemic by the Victorian government.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845070/leunig3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c3929cca63a44ae8b92ded40dede2168" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @leunigstudio / Instagram</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Alcorn told<span> </span><em>The Australian<span> </span></em>that Leunig was “entitled to be upset” about being let go from the position.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though she declined to comment further, she told<span> </span><em>news.com.au</em><span> </span>that Leunig was still “employed by us to provide a Saturday cartoon”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Leunig has also faced criticism over past cartoons, including one that compared the Victorian government to fascists following news of a proposal to ban unvaccinated children from childcare centres.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another controversial cartoon depicting an absent mum has been labelled as “condescending” and upsetting for young mums struggling with raising young children.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @leunigstudio / Instagram</em></p>

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Dan Andrews calls out double standard for Aussie Open players

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has made his stance clear regarding whether unvaccinated tennis players should be allowed to compete in the Australian Open this year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Premier </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/daniel-andrews-blunt-message-amid-australian-open-vaccination-storm/news-story/5e5ba25dae7632d5d4b6c44b9e61efbe" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">has said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> he doesn’t believe vaccinated players should be allowed to compete after a leaked email to Women’s Tennis Association players detailed the rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated players.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The email claimed that unvaccinated players could compete after completing 14 days of hotel quarantine upon arrival.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As for vaccinated players, the email said there would be no quarantine requirements and “will have complete freedom of movement”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the email, which was shared online by tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg, the tennis authority also said unvaccinated stars would need to “submit to regular testing”.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">🐨Update on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a>🐨<br /><br />Per email sent to WTA players just now, Tennis Australia has told WTA PC that fully vaccinated players won’t be required to quarantine or bubble at all.<br /><br />Unvaccinated players will be allowed to enter, TA tells WTA, but must do 14 days of hotel quarantine. <a href="https://t.co/cu4NV8abYB">pic.twitter.com/cu4NV8abYB</a></p> — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1452352307316895747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Andrews came out against the rules, saying that if those attending the event at Melbourne Park need to be fully vaccinated, the players should be too.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You try getting into the US … most of Europe, really, so many different parts of Asia if you haven’t been vaccinated,” he told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">ABC Radio</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. “Like, you’re just not getting a visa - why would that be different here?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I don’t think it’s too much to say, if you want one of those visas and you want to come here, then you need to be double-vaxxed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“All the people who are watching the tennis at the Australian Open, they’re going to be double-vaxxed, all the people that work there are going to be double-vaxxed. It stands to reason that if you want to get into the country to be part of that tournament, then you should be double-vaxxed as well.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In response to the commotion caused by the leaked email, Victorian Sports and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">3AW </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">radio that it will ultimately be up to the federal government to decide.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We are still resolving with Tennis Australia and the Commonwealth whether unvaccinated foreign nationals will be allowed into Australia at all, and if so, under what circumstances they will be allowed,” Mr Pakula said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Unvaccinated, we are still talking to the Commonwealth about whether the rule for international unvaccinated arrivals is either 14 days quarantine, or they are not coming into the country at all. We don’t expect that to be settled for another couple of weeks.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In the end, it’s a federal decision about who gets into the country and the circumstances in which they get in. We are still having that conversation with them. And we’re obviously talking to Tennis Australia who is also talking to the Commonwealth.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Pakula said that the decision would be made with “plenty of time for every player on tour to be very clear about what the rules will be”, stressing that vaccinated players would be treated in the same way as any other vaccinated arrival.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The email sent to tennis players from the sport’s governing body came after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said any sports stars hoping to compete in Australian competitions would need to have two doses of a TGA-approved vaccine.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

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