Andrews' roller coaster term nears end

The roller coaster ride of the first-term Andrews Labor government has come to an end with the last day of parliament, 65 days before the Victorian election.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks in the Legislative Assembly

Daniel Andrews' first-term government has weathered a stormy ride at times over the past four years. (AAP)

Daniel Andrews' government has seen dizzying highs and death-defying lows but Victoria's premier can claim what an increasing number of Australian political leaders can't: a full term in power.

In fact, the Labor premier is the first person in more than a decade to see out four years in the state's top job.

The 58th parliament officially rose for the last time on Thursday, with just 65 days until voters decide to stay on board the Labor roller coaster or give the Liberal-Nationals a whirl.

"We have a lot more work to do," Mr Andrews pitched as he arrived at parliament.

During his reign, about 260 bills were rubber-stamped by parliament, including historic voluntary assisted dying laws which saw debate in both houses stretch on for more than 24 consecutive hours.

The Legislative Council sat for more than 24 hours on three occasions and more than 587 hours last financial year as the government tried to push through its agenda.

That agenda has been progressive, ambitious and expensive.

The Andrews administration kicked off the treaty process with Aboriginal Victorians and is credited with making the most progress of any state or territory in the area.

Labor's 2014 election promise to remove level crossings is moving at a cracking pace. The government is also building the Metro Tunnel without commonwealth support, has started a medically-supervised injecting centre trial, held the nation's first royal commission into family violence and is enacting the recommendations, and is leasing a Melbourne port for a cool $9.7 billion.

But it hasn't always been smooth sailing, a point made by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy during a rowdy final Question Time for 2018.

"You lost your speaker and deputy speaker for rorting the second residence allowance, your deputy president went for rorting his printing allowance, your TAFE minister resigned for chauffeuring his dogs in his ministerial limo, your emergency services minister was bullied out for daring to stand up to you, your small business minister was dispatched in a factional hit," Mr Guy told the premier.

"We've witnessed Labor members abusing each other, knives wielded in the parliamentary dining room, sordid text messages by your health minister against the deputy premier and you distrust your own cabinet ministers so much you even tried to audit their mobile phones.

"A fish rots from the head. Will you finally accept responsibility for the sordid, corrupt mess of a government that you lead?"

The mention of fish was all Mr Andrews needed to hit back at Mr Guy for his own scandal - a lobster dinner with an alleged mafia boss.

"I've gotta say, pretty gutsy talking about seafood I would have thought," Mr Andrews lashed back across the chamber.

"Where does a lobster rot from, I wonder? And even surely a rotting lobster would taste okay if you washed it down with Grange," the premier added in a nod to the wine reportedly consumed during Mr Guy's controversial dinner.


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Source: AAP


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