Controversial former politician Daniel Andrews is fighting a new battle after he was virtually banned by an entire town in Victoria’s northwest.
Adam Scholte claims that tradesmen and businesses in Bundalong, a small town on the Murray River near the NSW border, have refused their services to Mr Andrews.
He claimed Mr Andrews was kicked out of the Bundalong Tavern, the town’s main pub, with its owner Brett Butler backing up the claim.
‘He (Mr Andrews) went down to the local hotel, he paid for his meal and all of his mates,’ Mr Scholte said.
‘As soon as the owner found out, he was refunded his money and told to leave the actual premises and the people inside were saying, “You may as well leave the whole town as well”.’
Mr Scholte also claimed Mr Andrews had bought a block of land near the town centre and was told by a local builder he refused to work for him.
‘(The builder allegedly told Mr Andrews) you can piss off, I’m not building for you and on top of that, I’m telling every builder, plumber, plasterer, carpenter, everyone involved in the building trade within 200km of this town that this is your block of land and not to touch,’ Mr Scholte said.
‘So people don’t forget, f*** you Dan Andrews. You think you can just do this to the people of Victoria and they’ll forgive and forget? Bulls*** mate, have fun with Uber Eats.’
A spokesman for Mr Andrews said the former premier had ‘never visited the pub’ .
He added Mr Andrews did not own property in Bundalong.
Property searches for both Mr Andrews and his wife reveal no holdings in the town that has a population of less than 500 residents.
Daily Mail Australia revealed in December the Victorian business blacklist against Mr Andrews was ballooning.
Jim’s Mowing boss Jim Penman delivered the former premier a hammer blow, telling Mr Andrews he was banned from using any of the franchise king’s services.
He told Daily Mail Australia he had cancelled Mr Andrews and ‘believes all of Victoria’ should blacklist the former politician as well.
‘If I was on the tools, I wouldn’t work for him, and I’d encourage any franchisee or independent contractor to do the same,’ Mr Penman said.
‘He threw over 100,000 independent contractors out of work for two months, without ANY form of health advice – as has now been proved by our lawsuit.
Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured here with wife Catherine) has been banned from the Bundalong Tavern
Mr Andrews was allegedly banned from attending the Bundalong Tavern (pictured)
‘I’ll be very pleased to think he may have to mow his own lawn, clean his own house and cook his own dinner but I’m sure there’s someone out there who likes him who’ll do it for him.
‘It must be humiliating for him [getting backlisted]. He was all powerful sitting on his throne at Spring St, wagging his fingers saying who can work and who can’t – but people now have the power.’
Mr Penman said he thought it was ‘personally a good idea’ for Mr Andrews to quit Victoria after his exit from politics and his new role as chair of youth mental health trust, Orygen.
‘I would hope he leaves… he’s running out of options. I would recommend he leave Victoria, the amount of damage he has done to this state is immeasurable,’ he said.
‘It’s the state that’s the most hostile to do business in. The guy is a disaster.
‘It’s also ludicrous this business of Mr Andrews running this mental health organisation its like letting rapists run women shelters or paedophiles running childcare centres.
‘Mr Andrews has done more to undermine mental health than anyone in the state’s history. I’ve seen the affects first hand, I’ve seen people lose homes and families. I actually know these people.’
Daily Mail Australia revealed in December ex-AFL star Paul Dimattina, who runs popular South Melbourne venue Lamaro’s Hotel, had banned Mr Andrews from his venue.
Jim’s Mowing boss Jim Penman banned Mr Andrews from using any of the his services
Mr Dimattina said the former premier was ‘easily the most hated person’ in Victoria as it is revealed multiple restaurant owners had refused service to Mr Andrews and his wife Cath.
‘No hope Mr Andrews would get a seat at my pub,’ Mr Dimattina told Daily Mail Australia.
‘If he walked in and sat down the Lamaro’s crowd would be disgusted if they saw him. Mr Andrews is hated because of his whole anti-business stance.
‘The trail of destruction Mr Andrews left is still being felt today: small businesses closed down, endless lockdowns, critical healthcare neglected, children missing out on school. He didn’t help anyone.
‘Mental health went downhill and now Mr Andrews has a job in mental health if you can believe that.’
Mr Dimattina, who followed his 131-game AFL career by taking charge of the restaurant and produce empire founded by his father Frank, said Mr Andrews also ‘absolutely crippled’ the hospitality industry.
Ex-AFL star Paul Dimattina banned Mr Andrews from his popular South Melbourne venue Lamaro’s Hotel
He became a leading voice opposing Victoria’s Covid response as Mr Andrews imposed the world’s longest periods of lockdown.
His attitude toward the government’s Covid response was further soured when he spent time in intensive care following a negative reaction to a vaccine booster shot.
‘Business was decimated, the CBD is a ghost town, once thriving restaurants are boarded up, its the same at every high street, Chapel St, Lygon St, there’s empty businesses everywhere,’ Mr Dimattina said.
‘What Mr Andrews did is he made running a small business not an easy thing… he’d be better off leaving the state, I’m sure there’s some people who still love him, lefties and that, but he’s not welcome anywhere and we’ll all be better off without seeing him here.’
Mr Andrews’ ban is a negative sign for his hopes of dining out in Melbourne given Mr Dimattina’s family own, and have owned, multiple restaurants in the city including along the famous Lygon Street precinct.
Restaurateur Chris Lucas also revealed he told Mr Andrews’ wife Cath there was nothing available after she called up to book a table at his Windsor eatery Hawker Hall, located at the once bustling Melbourne Chapel St precinct, during the Covid lockdown.
Mr Lucas said Di Stasio, a famed Melbourne restaurant group that is not part of his hospitality group, also refused Mr Andrews a booking for his birthday around the same period.
And its not only hospitality venues blacklisting Mr Andrews.
Prestigious National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula banned Mr Andrews from joining and there was also rumours exclusive Portsea Golf Club knocked back the ex premier.
Melbourne golfers were outraged by the Victorian government’s ban on the sport during lockdown, despite it being in the open air with large distances between players and providing a rare outlet for exercise.
Mr Andrews was Victorian Premier for almost nine years before he resigned in late 2023 and he has taken on a new role at Orygen, a mental health organisation.