A Master of His Craft

I have to give a shoutout to the breathtaking performance by Victorian Premier Dan Andrews in his press conference about the Commonwealth Games yesterday.

Only this bloke could make a silk purse from a sow's ear. 

The sow's ear is, of course, the $380 million bill for cancelling the commonwealth games. 

This joins his previous cancellation contract for the East-West link of more than $1.1 billion. 

That was at least an election promise - a stupid one but one nonetheless. Holding the commonwealth games was an election promise too - once again, a stupid one but the voters of Victoria are entitled to feel betrayed. 

However, there’s little sign that they do feel like that. Sure, his polls have slipped, but he keeps on winning. That’s partly because the opposition is not so much lacking in lustre but more akin to a political black hole - nothing of value emerges from their depths.

But it is Andrews himself who is the clear leader. It showed at the press conference. He was at his most confident and convincing.

Every hand gesture and facial expression, his glares and his stares, were all part of a masterful performance.

His tone and cadence, and the use of pause for effect, showed a bloke at the top of the communications game. 

It’s little wonder no one can land more than a glancing political blow on this bloke. You don’t have to like or agree with him, but you have to begrudgingly respect anyone who can master their craft.