Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Daniel Andrews

Emma VULIN (Pakenham) (13:18): I want to take this opportunity to thank our former Premier the Honourable Daniel Andrews for his commitment to this place over the last 20 years and for being the Premier of our state for the last nine. I knew Daniel when I was just 13 years old. He was a colleague of my mum in the office of Alan Griffin, who was the federal member for Corinella back in those days. I have watched Daniel grow from a teenager into the man and leader we see today. He has always been passionate and hardworking and most of all dedicated to making positive change for all Victorians. Before being elected to this place it is no secret that I worked in Daniel’s electorate office in Mulgrave. The Mulgrave community absolutely loved him, and I am sure that he will be missed. Barb and the staff at the electorate office will miss him too.

My electorate in Pakenham has seen so much progress under this government: things like new schools, new kinders, level crossing removals, two new train stations on the way and a community hospital to come – this is just to name a few. This is due to the ambitious agenda that Daniel set for this government, something that we should not forget. On a state level we have seen such big reforms – too many to name. He was at the heart of many of these projects and reforms that we see. Importantly, he cared about our most vulnerable. He did not let the noise distract him from doing what is right. I sincerely thank Daniel for his service, support and friendship and wish him, Cath, Noah, Grace and Joseph all the very best for whatever lies ahead.