Former Labor Senator Stephen Conroy has hit out at the “pathetic attack” on the Council of the Order of Australia after it controversially named Daniel Andrews in its King’s Birthday honours list.
Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes says it is “absolutely disgraceful” former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has received Australia’s top honour despite his legacy being “crippling debt”.
Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and former Western Australian premier Mark McGowan have been awarded the nation’s highest honour in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.
“It’s extraordinary, isn’t it, that republicans can’t wait to give themselves under the monarchy as quick as they can,” Mr Hughes told Sky News Australia.
“The fact that Andrews’ legacy is crippling debt for the state of Victoria … while McGowan didn’t destroy the budget, he left behind a crumbling health system.
“I think it’s absolutely disgraceful.
“But it is just extraordinary this blatant Albanese government nepotism.”
The Council of the Order of Australia controversially made Mr Andrews a Companion of the Order of Australia on Monday, with the decision sparking immediate backlash over the former premier’s stewardship of Victoria.
One of Mr Andrews predecessors, Jeff Kennett, subsequently revealed he had written to the Governor General asking he “rescind” the honour, adding he thought the announcement was “a joke.”
Former premier Jeff Kennett revealed he had written to the Governor General asking he “rescind” the honour, adding he thought the announcement was “a joke.” Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images
However, speaking to Sky News Australia later on Monday, Mr Conroy called attacks on Mr Andrews “a pathetic dummy spit,” as he defended the former premier’s inclusion on the honour’s list from critics and the media.
“The Sydney media bubble, frankly, are morons, you know nothing about Melbourne so get back in your box,” he said.
“No one cares about your views out there in broader Australia. This sort of pathetic, pathetic attack on the awards secretariat is just mind-blowing.
“Jeff (Kennett), that was just a pathetic dummy spit.”
Mr Conroy called attacks on Mr Andrews “a pathetic dummy spit,” as he defended the former premier’s inclusion on the honour’s list from critics and the media. Picture: David Geraghty/The Australian.
The former Senator added that he did not know Mr Andrews particularly well, saying he “wouldn’t have spoken to Daniel Andrews more than twice in 10 years,” but that the former premier’s repeated election victories demonstrated the public appreciated his work for the state.
In addition, Mr Conroy argued media coverage about the COVID pandemic, over which the former Victorian premier was heavily criticised, had been “wrong,” and even suggested negative press for Labor state governments helped to ensure federal Labor victory at the last election.
“You were wrong about COVID and you were wrong about how to deal with COVID, suck it up princesses, every Labor government got re-elected,” he said.
“The good news for Labor was your attitude helped deliver Federal Labour victory.
Senator Jacqui Lambie has criticised politicians receiving King’s Birthday Honours because part of the job is making sure they “get results” and it “doesn’t include medals, mate”.
Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and former Western Australian premier Mark McGowan have been awarded the nation’s highest honour in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.
“I wouldn’t accept one,” Ms Lambie told Sky News Australia.
“I get paid over 200,000 bucks to do a job.
“Part of my job is making sure I get results, and that doesn’t include medals, mate.”
“Four seats in Western Australia because the Sydney media bubble kept attacking the WA government, so thank you.”
Under the Andrews government, Victoria endured one of the world’s longest lockdowns alongside some of the most draconian restrictions seen in any country.
In addition, the bungled hotel quarantine program resulted in the deaths of nearly 800 people during the state’s second wave of infections.
Former Labor Senator Stephen Conroy has declared critics of Daniel Andrews being included in the King’s Birthday honours list can “suck it up,” as he backed the former Victorian premier. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
Critics of the former premier also highlight his handling of the economy, and the explosion of government debt in particular, in questioning the decision to award him the nation’s highest honour.
Victoria’s debt is on track to hit $247.2 billion by 2027 according to global ratings agency S&P, which would see the government forced to cough up $33 million a day in servicing costs.
It would also mean the state would have almost double the debt of New South Wales despite having a much smaller economy.