Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews shows his P-plate driver’s licence to announce they are free

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The Victorian premier appears to be trying to change his nickname from ‘Dictator Dan’ to ‘Daggy Dad Dan’ by releasing a photo of his P-plate licence in the latest stunt to soften his image in an election year.

The image was to announce the latest freebie from the Victorian government with the accompanying text reading ‘From today we’re making these (P-plate licences) free’.

The shown licence, which had an expiration date of 1996, displays what would have been a 24-year-old Mr Andrews sporting a curly mop of hair above large wire-rimmed circular glasses.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has released a photo of his P-plate licence to announce that such licences will be handed out free in the state

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has released a photo of his P-plate licence to announce that such licences will be handed out free in the state

The licence photo was another salvo in the charm offensive being waged by Mr Andrews’ PR team to bury the memory of the lockdowns endured by Victorians during the Covid period.

Victorians were locked down for a world-record 262 days over 2020 and 2021. 

Covid cases have again surged in Victoria this winter but instead of imposing strict lockdowns and curfews, as he did in the past two years, Mr Andrews has handed out free N95 masks. 

The change of approach comes as a state election looms in November.

The Andrews government was notable for going above and beyond medical advice during the Covid period. 

Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton let it slip to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell in September 2020 that the curfew, then in place, wasn’t his idea.

The charm offensive being waged by Mr Andrews this year is in contrast to the harsh leader who imposed world-record lockdowns on Victorians

The charm offensive being waged by Mr Andrews this year is in contrast to the harsh leader who imposed world-record lockdowns on Victorians

The charm offensive being waged by Mr Andrews this year is in contrast to the harsh leader who imposed world-record lockdowns on Victorians

However, in July this year, the state’s new health minister Mary-Anne Thomas let it be known she had defied Prof Sutton’s advice to make masks mandatory.

‘I have chosen not to extend mandates for mask-wearing in some of the settings recommended to me by the health officer,’ Ms Thomas said.

‘We believe after three years, Victorians know what to do.’

This was a far cry from the Covid period when the Victorian government banned playgrounds on the strength of one suspected transmission.

At one stage Mr Andrews even warned Victorians about gathering on a beach to watch sunsets.

Victoria Police became the first law agency to use rubber bullets against civilians during an anti-lockdown protest at the Shrine of Remembrance in September 2021. 

Victoria was known for its heavy handed policing during the state's Covid lockdowns and in this image police are firing gas grenades, and rubber bullets, against anti-lockdown protesters at the Shrine of Remembrance in September 2021

Victoria was known for its heavy handed policing during the state's Covid lockdowns and in this image police are firing gas grenades, and rubber bullets, against anti-lockdown protesters at the Shrine of Remembrance in September 2021

Victoria was known for its heavy handed policing during the state’s Covid lockdowns and in this image police are firing gas grenades, and rubber bullets, against anti-lockdown protesters at the Shrine of Remembrance in September 2021 

The Andrews government has gone through many ministers most associated with the Covid pandemic, with four senior MPs announcing they would retire from politics at the next election.

Mr Andrews has shared a number of personal moments on his social media this year.  

In July, his wife took to Twitter to share a picture of a smiling stubbled unbuttoned Mr Andrews to celebrate his 50th birthday.

The romantic black and white photo showed Catherine Andrews giving her husband a kiss on the cheek with the caption: ‘Happy 50th to you my love’ accompanied by a red ‘love heart’ emoji. 

The tweet shared by Mr Andrews and his wife in July as part of a campaign to change his image

The tweet shared by Mr Andrews and his wife in July as part of a campaign to change his image

The tweet shared by Mr Andrews and his wife in July as part of a campaign to change his image

Ms Andrews also solemnly announced the death of the family cat Felix in April. 

‘With the heaviest of hearts, we have farewelled our beautiful old boy Felix today,’ Ms Andrews she tweeted.

‘He had a very long life for which we shall be forever grateful. We will never forget his gentle nature and special ability to comfort and love us when we needed it most.’

Ms Andrews went public with the death of the family's beloved cat Felix earlier this year

Ms Andrews went public with the death of the family's beloved cat Felix earlier this year

Ms Andrews went public with the death of the family’s beloved cat Felix earlier this year

Mr Andrews’ family features regularly his social media accounts, with the Premier reportedly having more people in his personal communications team than the prime minister.

The whole Andrews clan was shown attending the premiere of the hit musical Hamilton in March.

Mr Andrews also sent out a picture of himself with Catherine in a box seat from the theatre with the caption: ‘Date night’. 

The Victorian government is making a big effort to promote good news stories and is showering its constituents with free things despite the state’s budget being billions in debt.

Grace Andrews, Daniel Andrews, Catherine Andrews, Joseph Andrews and Noah Andrews attend the Melbourne premiere Hamilton at Her Majesty's Theatre on March 24

Grace Andrews, Daniel Andrews, Catherine Andrews, Joseph Andrews and Noah Andrews attend the Melbourne premiere Hamilton at Her Majesty's Theatre on March 24

Grace Andrews, Daniel Andrews, Catherine Andrews, Joseph Andrews and Noah Andrews attend the Melbourne premiere Hamilton at Her Majesty’s Theatre on March 24

Money is being pumped into the state failing health system, with a May budget revealing 21 Victorians had died waiting for an ambulance.

Mr Andrews, whose premiership has been marked by a law and order style with the state having the largest police force in Australia, has also been combatting suggestions crime is rampant.

He testily hit back at influencer Bec Judd in May who said she feared home invasions in the affluent Melbourne area of Brighton.

Mr Andrews berated Judd for ‘missing’ the announcement of 500 additional police officers, 70 of which he believed were allocated to her Bayside area.

Victorian Labor also faces potential court convictions linked to Mr Andrews’ socialist left faction.

Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission hearings have revealed a pervasive Labor culture of branch-stacking and misuse of taxpayer money, sometimes to employ relatives in ministerial offices. 

IBAC head Robert Redlich, told the AFR he was ‘highly frustrated’ that he could not reveal further investigations underway.

Despite this, most polls have Victorian Labor well placed to win the next election although they might lose some MPs from their healthy majority.

As in the federal election, the Liberals face competition from the upstart Teal candidates in seats that previously were considered safe.

Liberal leader Matthew Guy has faced corruption problems of his own recently leaving his chief of staff, who it was revealed asked a wealthy Liberal donor to fund his private marketing business.