Daniel Andrews resigns LIVE: Victoria Premier quits politics

Daniel Andrews has no qualms about acknowledging that he has become a polarizing political figure over the years.

He led his state through the world’s longest lockdown and faced intense backlash for his handling of the pandemic, but silenced those same critics in the 2022 state election as he stormed to victory in what became known as a “Danslide.”

During his time in office, he was labeled a “master communicator” and mastered the art of the press conference during the pandemic, when he faced the media day in and day out (wearing his North Face jacket) to provide the new updates on Covid.

That jacket became a symbol that everything was as good as it could be in those pandemic days. The North Face logo often indicated that the number of cases had remained stable, while a formal lawsuit was more often reserved for more serious news.

Even after the worst of the pandemic had passed, Mr Andrews had adapted to and regularly held press conferences as a means of delivering news to Victorians.

It was the same format in which he delivered the news he was going to deliver the Commonwealth Games cancelled.

He said: “What has become clear is that the cost of hosting these games is not the $2.6 billion that was allocated, but at least $6 to $7 billion.”

“I will not take money from hospitals and schools to fund an event that is three times as expensive as budgeted and budgeted for last year.”

The news caused uproar and confusion around the world, but Mr Andrews never publicly doubted his decision.

Despite his often divisive decisions, Daniel Andrews undoubtedly had the mandate of the Victorian people.

He was re-elected for a historic third term just nine months ago with an easy majority.