Daniel Andrews has become the latest in a string of state and territory leaders to stand down since the start of the pandemic, citing the immense toll involved with being in the top job.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr are now the only ones to have held office since National Cabinet was formed in March 2020 to help drive Australia's COVID-19 response.
"It's not an easy job being premier of our state," Mr Andrews said as he announced his resignation as Victoria's leader on Tuesday.
"To a certain extent, every waking moment is about the work and that takes a toll".
Mr Andrews enjoyed passionate support and endured fierce opposition during the pandemic, with little roadmap for leaders to follow throughout controversial lockdowns and vaccine mandates.
Another long-serving Labor leader to have overseen strict pandemic lockdowns and the mixed public reaction - former WA premier Mark McGowan, who retired in May this year - said those years had taken it out of him.
He described political leadership as "relentless".
"The truth is I'm tired - extremely tired," Mr McGowan said at the time.
"In fact I'm exhausted."
Less than a year in the top job was enough for former Liberal Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein to call it quits in April last year, saying navigating COVID-19 involved "unforeseen challenges".
"What I've found after the last two years especially is I have nothing left in the tank to give," Mr Gutwein said.
Former NT chief minister Michael Gunner, who stood aside in May last year, also received blowback for introducing tough travel restrictions and mandating vaccines during the pandemic.
Mr Gunner, who at the time was just 46 years old, said a heart attack two years prior, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic had taken a toll and he was tired.
"I can no longer keep looking Territorians in the eye and say 'I can keep giving 100 per cent every day', and if I can't do that I shouldn't be in the chair," Mr Gunner said.
Former Liberal NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian who saw her state through the pandemic also resigned, but for different reasons, facing an investigation by the state's corruption watchdog.
Ms Berejiklian's successor, Dominic Perrottet was toppled by an election before burnout could prompt a resignation, as was former Liberal South Australian premier Steven Marshall.
After briefly serving on National Cabinet as acting Victorian premier when Mr Andrews sustained a back injury, James Merlino would also retire from politics soon after.
A long-standing deputy premier of Victoria, Mr Merlino shared the feelings of many others like him in saying leaving political life behind would allow him to spend much more time with his family.
Mr Andrews said on Tuesday his family was very pleased with his decision to step down, despite supporting him through, "a lot of good times, and some challenging times as well".
"For all that me doing this job has meant to them, I am deeply, deeply grateful," he said.
