A stunning and deeply unsettling rumour has begun circulating within Victoria’s Labor Party circles: former Premier Daniel Andrews is reportedly in significantly poorer health than the public has been led to believe, with senior party powerbrokers quietly acknowledging that his condition has deteriorated sharply in recent months.

Multiple sources inside the Victorian Labor machine — including current and former ministers, senior advisers and factional operatives — have confirmed to independent journalists that Andrews has been quietly battling a serious ongoing illness since late 2024. While the exact nature of the condition remains undisclosed, insiders describe it as “chronic and increasingly debilitating,” requiring frequent medical interventions and limiting his ability to maintain the active public schedule he has kept since stepping down as Premier in September 2023.

The rumour first gained traction in closed-door faction meetings in December 2025, when senior figures reportedly discussed Andrews’ absence from several high-profile party events and his noticeably reduced media appearances. One powerbroker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “He’s not well. Everyone close to him knows it. He’s been managing something serious for a while now, and it’s getting harder to hide. The man is tough — tougher than most — but even he can’t fight this forever.”

Andrews himself has not commented publicly on any health concerns beyond the back surgery he underwent in 2021 and the chronic pain he has occasionally referenced in interviews. In recent months he has appeared at select events, including charity functions and a low-key appearance at the 2025 Victorian Labor conference, where he was described by attendees as “visibly thinner” and “moving more slowly than usual.” Close allies have consistently dismissed speculation as “gossip” and pointed to Andrews’ active role in business consulting and public speaking as evidence that he remains in good health.

Yet the whispers have grown louder. Party operatives say Andrews has quietly scaled back commitments, cancelled several speaking engagements, and has been seen using a walking stick at private functions — details previously unreported. One source close to the former Premier told reporters: “He’s still sharp, still engaged, but the physical toll is obvious to anyone who spends time with him. The man gave everything to the job for nine years. Now he’s paying the price.”

The rumour has sparked concern among Labor ranks, with some fearing the optics of a former leader struggling publicly could damage the party ahead of the 2026 state election. Others argue Andrews’ health is a private matter that should be respected, noting that he has not sought public sympathy or used his condition to deflect criticism.

Andrews’ office issued a brief statement through a spokesperson: “Mr Andrews is continuing to enjoy time with his family and engage in private work. Any suggestion of serious illness is speculative and unhelpful. He remains grateful for the support he has received from Victorians and wishes everyone well.”

The news has divided public opinion. Supporters have rallied online with messages of gratitude for Andrews’ leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for privacy. Critics, however, have pointed to his famously demanding work schedule and alleged “workaholic” tendencies, suggesting years of relentless pressure may have taken a severe physical toll.

Whatever the full truth, the rumour has cast a shadow over Andrews’ carefully curated post-premiership image as a resilient, active figure enjoying life after politics. For a man who once dominated Victorian public life with near-superhuman stamina, the suggestion that he is now seriously unwell has struck a chord — and raised quiet questions about the long-term cost of leadership in high-pressure roles.

As Victoria prepares for another election year, the former Premier’s health — real or rumoured — has become an unexpected subplot. Whether Andrews chooses to address it remains unclear. For now, the man who once controlled the narrative of an entire state appears to be facing a story he cannot fully shape.