Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has been recovering from a neurological episode that left him debilitated for a period late last year, prompting a hospital admission shortly before Christmas.
Sources close to the matter described the 53 year old as having been “in a very bad way” during the ordeal, which saw him admitted to Monash Hospital. Political insiders told the Herald Sun that Andrews experienced challenges with movement and speech following the incident.
One senior political figure said details of his condition had been “locked down like Michael Schumacher’s family”, drawing a comparison with the intense privacy surrounding the former Formula 1 driver’s health.
Others familiar with the situation have sought to calm speculation, saying Andrews is making steady progress through an intensive rehabilitation programme. One source characterised the episode as a “minor medical issue” and said he was “fine”.
The episode has drawn attention partly because Andrews did not publicly mark the death of his former senior adviser Tim Picton last month. Picton died following a one punch assault outside a Perth pub, and colleagues described Andrews’ absence from the funeral as “uncharacteristic” given their close professional and personal relationship.
Andrews has previously faced serious health setbacks. In 2021, he was hospitalised after a fall at a holiday home in Sorrento, suffering a crushed back, broken ribs and respiratory failure. He has also spoken openly in the past about being a long time smoker and attempts to quit.
He stepped down as premier in September 2023 after nearly a decade leading Victoria, including through the Covid-19 pandemic and extended lockdowns. Since leaving office, Andrews has largely kept a low public profile, with his recent hospital stay drawing renewed interest from both supporters and critics.
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