Fresh from Victorian election victory, Daniel Andrews looms as a force in the federal poll
ABC News
January 13 2019
Daniel Andrews romped to victory last November smashing the Liberal Party, cementing himself as the most popular premier in the country and giving him plenty of power to flex against the under-pressure Morrison Government.
It did not take long after his victory lap for Mr Andrews to cause problems for the flailing Morrison Government, engaging in a game of brinkmanship on education funding.
The Premier won that stand-off just before Christmas, but what does 2019 hold in store for politics in Victoria — in particular what role does Mr Andrews play in the upcoming federal poll?
In Bill Shorten's corner
Victoria was problematic for Labor at the last federal election, with the political firestorm over the Premier's handling of the CFA a major distraction for Labor's national campaign.
It was in Victoria where the Liberals, through now-independent Julia Banks, actually won a seat off a surging ALP.
But in the past three years the Coalition has crashed, culminating with the annihilation at the state poll on November 24.
With the federal election due in the next five months, some inside Victorian Labor are hoping that Mr Andrews will play a key role in that battle in his home state, especially in inner-city Melbourne.
The relationship between Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and his team and the Premier is collaborative — there were several complementary policies at the state poll and it is this type of relationship that is most likely during the election.
Standing side by side at the same press conference during last year's campaign, Mr Shorten promised funding for 10 hours of kinder, while Mr Andrews promised to fund an extra five hours.
Mr Shorten also announced solar initiatives that leveraged off Victorian Labor solar homes scheme.
Mr Andrews can also cause headaches for the Prime Minister.
Having already picked and won a fight on education, what other fights may Mr Andrews choose to square up to the Federal Government on?
For a long time, Canberra and Spring Street have bickered over infrastructure, with the state complaining that federal cash for projects does not match Victoria's population. This is sure to remain a hot topic during the campaign.
It is a win-win for the Andrews Government, because deals are likely to be better under a federal Labor government, while it also might force the Coalition to find more cash for Victorian projects in the short-term.