The Daniel Andrews paradox: the enduring appeal of Australia’s most divisive premier

Dan Andrews called politics ‘an honourable profession’ in his maiden speech to parliament in early 2003, long before he went on to become one of the country’s most significant politicians. Composite: AAP / Getty Images

On 27 February 2003, the new MP for the outer suburban Melbourne electorate of Mulgrave rose to his feet to deliver his first speech in the Victorian parliament. Maiden speeches are traditionally where a new MP lays out their core motivation and their vision, but Daniel Andrews eschewed stirring prose or self-revelation.

There was nothing in this first outing to indicate that, 19 years later, he would become Australia’s longest-serving incumbent government leader and one of the country’s most significant politicians.