Newly re-elected Premier Daniel Andrews has lashed out at his defeated Liberal opponents, accusing them of ‘race baiting’ and scare tactics in their disastrous pitch for government.
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With a cabinet reshuffle looming in the wake of Labor’s landslide election victory on Saturday, Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins announced on Monday morning that she would step down for personal reasons.
The Premier also said on Monday that a high-level government job could be found for Reason Party MP Fiona Patten who looks to have lost her upper house seat in the election.
At a press conference on Monday, Mr Andrews said it was time to refresh his front bench.
"It's a very strong team, I'm very proud of all of them, but there will be changes in cabinet and I think that's a good thing," the Premier said.
"It's always good to have some new blood, people who, you know, fresh legs are always good."
Mr Andrews told ABC radio on Monday that elderly voters in his electorate of Mulgrave received phone calls from the Liberals during the campaign, with the caller suggesting the residents were not safe in their homes.
“I’m referring to people in my electorate, for instance, being telephoned by our political opponents... and being asked ‘I’m just calling to make sure you’ve got enough locks on your doors’,” Mr Andrews said.
“That sort of low-road stuff will never be supported in this state because people just see through it.
“We are at our best when we lead... we’re not at our best when we’re off their race baiting, when we’re running nasty, ill-informed, low-road, low-grade politics.
“That brand of politics has been comprehensively rejected; that fills me with pride.”
Mr Andrews said there was “absolutely no question” that race played a role in the Liberals’ law and order-based campaign which made heavy use of a “jail the gangs” slogan.
“I’m not for a moment saying that we don’t have issues (with) crime and some of those matters,” the Premier said.
“I just make a judgment that a well-resourced police force, a well resourced TAFE system and a preparedness to change our mental health system is much better to keep us safe than angry politicians seeking to make political capital out if this.”
Mr Andrews said he would be keen to talk to Ms Patten about her doing a job for his government, but said he did not know if the former Sex Party leader would be interested.
“Her record tells you that she’s someone who could play all manner of different roles...and if she was interested I’m sure we could find some different roles for her to play to make the place fairer and stronger,” the Premier said.
Ms Hutchins, whose husband died last year, also went public on Monday about her decision to step down from the ministry.
“After an amazing four years as a Minister in the Andrews Labor Government I have decided not to recontest my position in the Cabinet in order to focus on my family and myself after the passing of my husband Stephen Hutchins last year,” Ms Hutchins said.
