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Analysis: Daniel Andrews' "surprising" resignation is a significant loss of experience for the Labor Party and national cabinet in particular, 9News chief political reporter Charles Croucher says.
The Victorian premier had especially close working relationships with both the prime minister and a former Liberal NSW premier, and was one of the last-standing state leaders from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Croucher said that "there was a respect for Daniel Andrews across party lines" at the national cabinet table, "which might surprise some".
READ MORE: Daniel Andrews on the best and worst moments of his time as premier
"Anthony Albanese has made it clear he is close to Daniel Andrews," Croucher said.
"He has said as much, and indeed the premier in his press conference said the prime minister was quite surprised at what happened here.
"It is a loss of experience for the Labor Party, in particular, a loss of experience around the national cabinet table as well."
He said there was definitely "shock" resonating around Canberra.
"Daniel Andrews is a person who the Labor Party had turned to in some certain circumstances and someone who the Liberal politicans, particularly those out of Victora, have loved to use as a target and someone they have tried to tie to the prime minister in previous months.
"The Senate particularly, some of the Victorians in the Senate were gunning for the Victorian government and they thought that was an opportunity.
"Whether that somehow dissipates or dies off, we will see."
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr are the only state and territory leaders who remain in their positions from the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Croucher also noted the close working relationship Andrews formed with Dominic Perrottet when he was the NSW premier.
The pair collaborated on tax reform ideas and two states jointly opened up after COVID.
READ MORE: Australia reacts to resignation of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews
Croucher pointed out that Andrews had been premier under many different prime ministers during his almost nine years in the role, with Tony Abbott leading the country when he was first elected to lead Victoria.
"Obviously the last few months have taken their toll on the premier," Croucher said.
"I think the decision with the Commonwealth Games had wide-reaching impacts that affected here in Canberra."
9News reporter Heidi Murphy said Andrews' resignation had come as a surprise for a lot of those at the press conference at Victorian parliament.
"It is a surprising announcement, certainly, for a lot of people, myself included," she said.
"I didn't think we would hear this announcement quite this soon.
"There's been a lot of speculation.
"I thought he would wait until the Metro Tunnel opened, or even as a couple of weeks ago he said he would be there contesting the next election in 2026.
"Clearly, he will not be, he's changed his mind. This is how he does tend to operate."
