The decision to make former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews a Companion of the Order of Australia has left Steve Price fuming, with the Sky News host calling the move a “sick joke”.
Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes says former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews receiving a Companion of the Order of Australia is an “insult” to Victorians.
Mr Andrews and former Western Australian premier Mark McGowan have been awarded the nation’s highest honour in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.
“A lot of us could argue that both McGowan and Andrews did their job poorly,” Ms Hughes said.
“It’s just disgusting, I think, on every level.”
The Council of the Order of Australia made Mr Andrews a Companion of the Order of Australia on Monday, sparking immediate backlash over the legacy of the former premier’s stewardship of Victoria.
Mr Andrews received the award for “eminent service to the people and Parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development”.
The 51-year-old’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic polarised Victorians, with some claiming the effects still linger more than four years after the state was first plunged into lockdown.
The Council of the Order of Australia controversially made Daniel Andrews a Companion of the Order of Australia on Monday, with the decision sparking immediate backlash over the former premier’s stewardship of Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty
The imposition of draconian lockdown laws in particular rubbed many in the state the wrong way.
Price lashed Mr Andrews on The Project earlier in the week over the honours, where he singled out lockdowns, the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games and financial mismanagement as key issues with his leadership.
He doubled down while filling in as host of Sky News Australia’s The Bolt Report on Tuesday as he discussed the contentious topic with Victoria Shadow Police Minister Brad Battin.
Mr Battin questioned the process of politicians receiving such honours, asking why he received the award so soon after his resignation last year.
Sky News host Steve Price has ripped into the decision to award Daniel Andrews with King’s birthday honours, declaring it a “very sick joke.” Picture: Sky News Australia
“How did Daniel Andrews get it in eight months when every other premier or former member of Parliament who does get these awards has to wait such a long period of time because they generally take about two years to proceed?” Mr Battin asked.
Mr Battin also asked why Mr Andrews was allowed to be awarded such an honour while he remains under investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) as part of a probe into the government’s dealings with the United Firefighters Union (UFU).
“The one that really frustrates me – in the police force if you want to get promoted and you’re currently under investigation for anything within the Victoria Police force, your promotion gets put on hold until the investigation is finalised – why isn’t Daniel Andrews’ award being put on hold until the IBAC investigation comes out into what happened with the UFU?” he said.
“Why does he get a special privilege to move through to get a top award? That should be rebuked if in the case that the UFU-IBAC result comes back that he interfered in any way or in any corrupt behaviour.
“These are the sort of things I think put risk to these rewards awards in the future, and it makes people have a negative feeling of them.”
Sky News host Rita Panahi says there is further evidence the honours system in Australia is “completely and utterly broken” and has become “hopelessly politicised”.
Ms Panahi said while there are also “worthy recipients”, she took aim at some of those who have been recognised.
“When you have the likes of Dan Andrews, Mark McGowan and Sam Mostyn receiving the highest honour in this country, you know something is desperately wrong,” Ms Panahi said on Monday evening.
“All three are highly political, highly divisive and unworthy of such an honour.”
Ms Panahi lashed Dan Andrew’s COVID-19 lockdown response in Victoria, the results of which, she said, “will be felt for many years to come”.
She said former WA premier Mark McGowan also “excelled in scaremongering” during the pandemic.
He added that he didn’t know Mr Andrews could be rewarded for anything outside his role as premier and it was “important to show his character.”
Price agreed, asking how many nurses worked in hospitals across Victoria during the pandemic have got a King’s birthday honour.
“Not many, I wouldn’t have thought. Or the surgeons or the doctors or the mental health experts or the teachers?” the host said.
“We’re still dealing with mental issues for young children who weren’t allowed to go to school for two years. I mean, it really is a very sick joke I’ve got to say.”