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Daniel Andrews injuries: No police called for stricken Premier

The Victorian Liberals are pursuing conspiracy theories about the injuries that have kept Premier Daniel Andrews, pictured with daughter Grace, off work for months.

The Victorian Liberals are pursuing conspiracy theories about the injuries that have kept Premier Daniel Andrews, pictured with daughter Grace, off work for months. Photo: Twitter/Daniel Andrews

Police were not called when Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews fell and seriously injured his back, casting further doubt on the state opposition’s claims of a cover-up.

Shadow treasurer Louise Staley on Monday issued a press release calling for Mr Andrews to answer 12 questions about his injury, including what time an ambulance was called and whether he was “interviewed either formally or informally by the police in relation to anything that occurred over that long weekend”.

The Liberal-Nationals opposition provided no evidence to suggest anything untoward or unusual occurred.

But Ms Staley said Mr Andrews needed to “clear up” rumours circulating online regarding the incident.

“If there is no cover-up then there is no reason not to provide answers to these simple questions,” the Liberal MP said.

Mr Andrews broke several ribs and suffered an acute compression fracture of the T7 vertebra after slipping on stairs at a holiday home on the Mornington Peninsula on March 9.

The 48-year-old was released from the hospital on March 15 and has been recovering at home since. There have been few updates about his condition, the most recent in a social media post from his wife, Catherine, last weekend.

On Thursday, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton confirmed officers were not called to the incident.

“I’ve been advised that we haven’t attended,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

Asked whether Mr Andrews had been formally or informally questioned by police Mr Patton replied: “No”.

“What you’ve got is a tragic accident that’s left a person severely injured, who happens to be the premier of the state. That’s not a matter the police would be involved in,” he said.

Earlier this week, Ambulance Victoria released a statement, with the Premier’s permission, confirming paramedics were dispatched at 6.47am and arrived at the Sorrento home where he was staying at 7.01am.

Ms Staley said it was her hope her remaining questions – including who owned the property where the accident occurred and who was present at the time – would be answered.

“I’ll just continue to put out there that they should be answered,” she said outside parliament on Thursday.

Labor MPs have accused Ms Staley and her party of peddling conspiracy theories and demanded she apologise to the Premier.

Senior government minister Martin Pakula said the Liberal Party was at risk of falling down a “Trumpian conspiracy theory wormhole”.

“These sort of mad conspiracy theories are not worthy of a person who wants to be treasurer, a party that wants to be government,” he said.

Mr Andrews is due to return to work later in June.

Earlier this week, Acting Premier James Merlino said Mr Andrews would see his doctors this week, and an “exact timeline” of his plans to return to work could be expected shortly.

-with AAP

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