Steve Price loses his cool over ‘Dictator’ Dan Andrews receiving King’s Birthday Honour, sparking a heated debate with Waleed Aly

Dan Andrews’ recognition in the King’s Birthday Honors sparked a testy debate on The Project, with presenters Waleed Aly and Steve Price taking issue with the divisive former Victorian premier.

Andrews was awarded the country’s highest award on Monday, the Companion of the Order of Australia, for his “distinguished services to the people and parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development.” .

He led Victoria through the Covid pandemic, with Melbourne experiencing the world’s longest lockdown at 262 days, earning him the name ‘Dictator Dan’ for his tough approach.

“This is a guy who has kept Victoria locked up longer than anywhere else in the world,” Price said angrily.

“Covid aside, this guy has wasted $600 million without the Commonwealth Games.”

Andrews canceled the Commonwealth Games in July 2023, saying the event would cost $6 billion to $7 billion, which Victoria could not afford despite having already spent a significant amount of money to that point.

Steve Price (pictured) said it was ‘pathetic’ Daniel Andrews received the country’s highest honor at the King’s Birthday Awards

The former Victorian premier received the country’s highest award, the Companion of the Order of Australia, on Monday for his “distinguished services to the people and parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to the development of the infrastructure’

In a damning report released in March, Auditor-General Andrew Greaves found Victorian agencies failed to work together to provide “fair, complete and timely advice” to the government on the Commonwealth Games bid.

“The decisions to bid for, schedule and then withdraw from the Games cost Victoria more than $589 million for no discernible benefit,” the report said.

“This waste of taxpayer dollars on an event that will not occur is significant, especially given the state’s recent persistent operating deficits and rising debt levels.”

Price said as much: “Any infrastructure project [Andrews] checked off over budget and time’.

“The state has added up the combined debts of NSW, Queensland and Tasmania. And we give him an award? I mean, it’s sad.’

Despite Aly admitting he had issues with Andrews receiving such an award, he said Price ignored a crucial fact: Andrews’ policies were popular – and Victorians re-elected him after the lockdowns.

“The problem Steve runs into with your argument is that his policies, especially on Covid, were hugely popular and were tested in an election, where he had already had a landslide,” he said.

“And it was returned with an equivalent size.”

Waleed Aly (left, with Sarah Harris) defended Andrew’s policies as ‘wildly popular’, while Steve disagreed

But Price interrupted him and said: ‘That says more about how pathetic the opposition is. They weren’t very popular.

“If you had lost a family member who died in a nursing home, if you had lost a business that had gone bankrupt, if you couldn’t go and watch your child being buried when he died – and you think that guy deserves an award? ‘ Steve said.

Waleed responded that he didn’t want to “litigate Covid again” and Steve agreed, but said: “Daniel Andrews shouldn’t get an award for anything.”

When Waleed said that a man on a video package played before the segment had acknowledged that Daniel Andrews had saved his life, Steve had the ultimate comeback.

“Well, it won’t get him to our golf club anyway,” he said.

The former Prime Minister’s partner Max Beck subtly approached Portsea Golf Club power brokers last year to ask if Mr Andrews might join.

Andrews was reportedly told he would not, but club chairman Phil Cramer later denied the claims, saying the ex-PM had not even formally applied.

Members of the National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula have reportedly written to the club’s committee setting out their clear position against Andrews joining.

In a letter to the committee, more than 100 members, furious at not being able to take part in a round during lockdowns, claimed Andrews (pictured with Golf Australia chairman John Hopkins) ‘does not have the qualities consistent with the fundamental values ​​of the club. ‘

Other Australians have also spoken out about the controversy, with another former Victorian Premier, Jeff Kennett, writing in the paper Herald Sun that Mr Andrews who receives the highest honor has now devalued the award ‘beyond recognition’.

‘The Governor-General and the secretariat that manages the awarding of awards have criticized Victoria’s gross financial mismanagement, the deaths of more than 800 Victorians and Mr Andrews’ apparent failure to discharge his responsibilities under the Westminster system rewarded,” he wrote. .

Meanwhile, Jacqui Lambi told the story Today Toon that Mr Andrews – and all politicians – should not be considered for the award.

Andrews announced his resignation last year, leading others to wonder why he received the award so soon after leaving office – as other prime ministers traditionally have to wait years after leaving office.

Veteran broadcaster Neil Mitchell took to social media to question the timing of the award.

“Every Prime Minister since Jeff [Kennett] has been waiting for a gong for years. Dan got his in eight months. Why?’ he said.

“Dan Andrews’ gong rang quickly.”