Melbourne and the wider Australian public received sobering confirmation on February 4, 2026: former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is battling a serious and progressive neurological condition that has significantly deteriorated in recent months. A close family source, speaking on condition of anonymity, has provided the most detailed account yet of the health crisis that has kept the once-dominant political figure almost entirely out of public view since his surprise resignation in September 2023.

The source described a diagnosis first made in mid-2024 — initially presenting as persistent fatigue, recurring vertigo, intermittent loss of coordination, and episodes of slurred speech. Over the past 18 months the symptoms have worsened steadily to include muscle weakness (particularly in the legs and hands), difficulty swallowing, periods of cognitive fog lasting hours or days, and increasing problems with balance and fine motor control. The condition is understood to be a rare neurodegenerative disorder, with clinical features consistent with a form of motor neuron disease or a related progressive neurological illness.

“He’s been fighting this the same way he fought every political crisis — with absolute determination and refusal to show weakness,” the source said. “But there comes a point where your body simply doesn’t respond anymore. Over Christmas he told us quietly, ‘It’s time.’ Not time to give up, but time to accept that the public life he once lived may be over.”

Since stepping down as Premier after nine years in office — the longest continuous term of any modern Victorian leader — Andrews has made only a handful of carefully managed public appearances. His most recent, a short pre-recorded video message supporting Victorian Labor ahead of the 2026 state election, already showed visible physical frailty: slower speech, a slight tremor in one hand, and a noticeably reduced energy level compared to his commanding presence during the COVID-19 lockdowns and major infrastructure announcements.

Current Premier Jacinta Allan issued a short but warm statement: “Dan was one of the most consequential leaders Victoria has ever had. He carried enormous burdens for this state through fire, flood, pandemic and more. We wish him, Catherine and their family strength and peace.” Opposition Leader John Pesutto offered bipartisan respect: “Whatever our political differences, Dan Andrews was a formidable opponent and a dedicated servant of Victoria. We wish him well in this difficult time.”

The news has prompted widespread reflection across the political spectrum. Many Victorians who once criticised Andrews fiercely over the state’s prolonged COVID lockdowns have softened, acknowledging the immense personal toll of nearly nine years of continuous crisis leadership. Others remain critical or indifferent. Social media has been flooded with memories — both affectionate and angry — of the man who once seemed politically indestructible.

Medical experts consulted by media outlets suggest that if the condition is indeed motor-neuron-related or a similar neurodegenerative disorder, the prognosis is guarded at best. Andrews is reportedly spending his days at home with wife Catherine and their three children, focusing on family, quiet reading, occasional conversations with former colleagues, and managing symptoms with specialist care.

The man who once commanded daily press conferences with iron certainty and unshakeable resolve now faces a battle no policy, no infrastructure megaproject, and no election can win. As Victoria quietly prepares for life after Dan Andrews, the state he helped shape must confront a future without him at the centre — and, perhaps, without him at all.

In the end, even the strongest political figures are mortal. And sometimes “It’s time” is not a campaign slogan, not a policy pivot, not a strategic retreat — it’s a heartbreaking personal reality.

Sending strength to Dan, Catherine, and their family during this private and difficult chapter.