Sunday 27 November 2022 12:05 AM Victoria premier Daniel Andrews reveals how he spent night celebrating ... trends now
Daniel Andrews has revealed how he spent his first night celebrating as the re-elected premier of Victoria while praising the state as the best in the country.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, a beaming Mr Andrews admitted he had very little sleep after the election was called in his favour on Saturday night.
'I did not get on the beers but many others did, which I thoroughly endorse because we're back,' he said.
'Victoria is open. Not just open for business, Victoria is open for big ideas and reform. We are always at our best when we lead our nation and be in to doubt, we are leading our nation in so many areas.'
Mr Andrews used his first press conference as re-elected premier to praise Victoria as the best state in the country by making a bizarre comparison to the United States.
Daniel Andrews has revealed how he spent his first night celebrating as the re-elected premier of Victoria while praising the state as the best in the country
His press conference came as a high-profile Liberal senator slammed Mr Andrews' victory speech on Saturday night as 'really rude' and accused him of making his critics out to be anti-vaxxers.
Mr Andrews kissed his wife, pumped his fists and trumpeted his controversial Covid policies - which included a 263-day lockdown of Melbourne, the world's longest - as a tough decision that ultimately succeeded and united Victoria.
However, his comments were criticised by a furious Jane Hume, with the Liberal senator describing his victory speech as 'not gracious'.
'I always believe that the electorate gets it right and they made their voice very clear tonight,' she said on Sky News. 'However, that was not a gracious speech.
'He didn't mention Matthew Guy and it essentially said that the only reason that people disliked him was if they were anti-vaxxers. I thought that was really rude and totally disrespectful to his opponents.'
An ecstatic Mr Andrews, whose party had an easy majority of 54 seats as of 3am Sunday morning, admitted he had slept 'not very much' since the election was called in his favour last night.
'My politics has never been about the win, it is always about the work,' he told ABC Insiders on Sunday.
'You've got to win to do that, but I grew up being taught every day that with opportunity comes a profound obligation to do your best, to work hard, to do what matters, and that's exactly what I've delivered over these last eight years and I'm humbled and so grateful, so, so grateful that Victorians have re-elected a majority Labor government.'
Mr Andrews dodged questions about Labor's favourability taking a hit in some electorates because of his hard lockdown policies and stay-at-home orders with his party suffering a 9 per cent swing in Melbourne's north-west suburbs.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews celebrates during his victory speech at the Labor election party surrounded by his wife and children
Liberal senator Jane Hume has slammed Dan Andrews, describing his election victory speech as 'not gracious' and 'really rude and disrespectful'
'They couldn't work from home, many of them. What do you put those swings down to?' host David Speers asked.
'Well, the point you make, not being able to work from home and things of that nature,' Mr Andrews responded.
'That's why being in work is so important. Our political opponents were going to cancel projects and what happens when you cancel projects, you cancel jobs.
'We will work hard for the community and not just those communities. I'm fully aware that while being resoundingly elected, there were Victorians that didn't vote for us and I will work for them, to. That's part of my job.'
Mr Andrews insisted he would serve the full four year term and that one of his biggest priorities will be pushing for a gas reserve.
'When it comes to energy, the cheapest form of energy is renewable energy. That is a fact. On gas, I'm very encouraged,' he said.
'My discussions with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have been very positive. We need a gas reserve. Our gas for our businesses and our households. That's what's really, really important.'
His comments came after the premier took to the stage with his wife Cath and children Grace, Noah and Joseph at a victory party in his seat of Mulgrave, in Melbourne's south-east, on Saturday.
He told his jubilant supporters: 'Friends, these last few years have been incredibly challenging. We have had to make some very difficult decisions, some very tough decisions, and Victorian families and businesses right across our state have had a very difficult time.
'This was a one-in-100 year event. And because of the tough decisions that we made, and... the fact that Victorians stuck together... we went out and got vaccinated. Because vaccines work.
'As a community we were not, as some would say, divided. We were instead united in our faith in science. That sense of kindness, that sense of connection... has been confirmed today. Friends, hope always defeats hate.'
The Labor leader was greeted with hugs from his mother and sister - as well as chants of 'four more years' from the adoring party faithful.
He also shared leadership advice given to him by former prime minister Paul Keating to back up his argument.
'Reforming giant and Labor icon Paul Keating once said to me, "son, leadership is not about doing what is popular, leadership is about doing what is right",' he said.
'Essentially, he was telling me that leadership is about doing what matters and that's exactly what the people of this great state have endorsed today.'
A jubilant Mr Andrews with his wife and children ahead of his victory speech after he won a third term as Victoria's Premier
Daniel Andrews kisses his wife Catherine during his victory speech at the Labor election party - where he called her his 'best friend'
About 10.50pm on Saturday, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy conceded in a call to Mr Andrews - the second one that he has made, and almost certainly the last.
Mr Guy, flanked by his wife Renae, told supporters in Doncaster: 'Post this election that we come together as Victorians know that the best of our state should be ahead of us, not behind us.
'There have been some truly tremendous swings to our side of politics in Melbourne's north and west, swings above 15 per cent approaching 20 per cent in Melbourne's northern and western suburbs.
'We've got a lot of work to do, we know that. But we also know that our time in the sun will come again.'
Major networks - the ABC, Sky, Seven and Nine - all called the race in favour of Mr Andrews shortly after 8pm.
Early in the night, ABC election analyst Antony Green projected the ALP will win at least 50 seats in the lower house, a simple majority. But the results have already gone beyond that number.
Daniel Andrews hugs his mother Jan as he arrives to make his victory speech after his win on Saturday night - with Labor keeping a majority government
Mr Andrews' party campaigned on a platform of free kindergarten, mega infrastructure projects and a state-run renewable energy company.
The Greens also look set to make significant gains at Saturday's poll. They retained the seats of Brunswick, Melbourne, Prahran and were projected to pick up Northcote and Richmond.
Despite losing skin in the inner city to the Greens, Labor campaign chair and former deputy premier James Merlino said it was a magnificent victory.
'There's tight contests in those seats in
