Jeff Kennett, who’s never one to mince his words, said he was not surprised by Mr Andrews’s resignation, noting the position “takes its toll”.
The former Liberal premier said the optimum period for one premier to be in office was between five and seven years.
“You either achieve your goals in which case you should hand over responsibility, or you don’t, and then you certainly should hand it over,” Mr Kennett said.
“So Daniel’s been there for nine years … I think you get to a stage where there’s a lot of repetition in what you do.
“You feel as though you’re public property you can’t go anywhere without being talked to or photograph taken or some abuse.”
Mr Kennett said Mr Andrews’s legacy would be determined by the state in which he left the community.
“He was so much in control, he didn’t use the traditional media, he used social media, he controlled his party very strongly,” he said.
“But the real test is not where you start, but where you finish and the state in which you leave the community.
“So Daniel’s legacy won’t be determined today or tomorrow it’ll be determined over the next three or four years, or it might even be determined over the next 20 years.”
– Reporting by Natasha Schapova
