Politician who sparked mental health crisis with lockdowns scores mental health job
Former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has launched a career in mental health as the chairman of Orygen, a mental health research clinic.
Dan Andrews: The ‘Coronavirus Dictator’
The news infuriated taxpayers who remember Andrews’ authoritarian measures during the pandemic, which earned him the title of “Coronavirus Dictator” from the Washington Post. As the head f he government in the state of Victoria in Australiae, he was quick to pull the trigger on harsh lockdowns in response to low caseloads – sometimes as little as 22 cases in the entire state - keeping Victorian citizens under six separate lockdowns for a total of 262 days.
The lockdowns had a devastating effect on Victorian children, causing high psychological distress in 70% of high school students. Suicide and self-harm rose sharply in adolescent girls and anxiety surged among children, with some refusing to return to school. Last year, mental health experts blamed lockdowns for the high dropout rates among high school students in Victoria.
Andrews kept taxpayers under lockdown long after he was warned that the measure would cause a mental health crisis. In October 2020, Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt urged Andrews to end lockdowns, which he said posed a “risk to mental health.”
In September 2021, Andrews promised taxpayers “new freedoms” if 70% of the population received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Those freedoms meant that two individuals could meet outdoors for four hours – up from two – within 10 kilometers of their homes. This was in addition to the time allotted for exercise.
Backlash
Andrews left office last year and will continue to collect an annual pension of A$300,000 from the government. His new role as chairman of Orygen will fetch him an extra A$75000, according to reports.
The news invited strong backlash and protests. Former Liberal leader and Beyond Blue founder Jeff Kennett called it “the most absurd” appointment he has heard of “in recent times,” according to The Age.
“It is an abject disgrace to all of those who have suffered as a result of his gross mismanagement of the state,” Kennett said. “I welcome former politicians who have been fortunate enough to hold high office doing more in the community, but this just doesn’t pass the pub test.”
On Friday, a group called Leave Our Kidz Alone organized a protest against Andrews’ appointment to the post.
“Daniel Andrews who is directly responsible for a severe increase in Victoria's mental health rates and suicide rates due to his tyrannical and unnecessary lockdowns. Has [sic] been astoundingly appointed as head of the board of Orygen, an organisation designed to assist youth with mental health,” a user wrote on X in a post announcing the protest. “This appointment is nothing short of a disgrace and must be reversed.”
“A peaceful rally will be held to show your disapproval by the way of a peaceful gathering, to send a clear assertive message to Orygen and Daniel Andrews he is not welcome to hold any position in this State especially one that deals with youth mental health.”
Ange Shearman, whose son Louie committed suicide during Andrews’ first lockdown in 2020, expressed her family’s distress.
“We have been to hell and back. But today we are in shock,” she said.
“How can a divisive ex-premier in Andrews, who has wreaked havoc on Victoria, presided over the longest harshest lockdowns in the world, with the highest suicide rates, be appointed to chair Orygen, a prominent and respected youth mental health body. The optics alone are horrendous. It’s like Orygen and the ex-premier are gaslighting the most vulnerable people in our state. It’s unbelievable and I’m asking for your support to reverse this. Orygen must think again.”
