Billionaire James Packer has launched a blistering attack on former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, accusing the long-serving Labor leader of almost “ruining” his life and describing him as “human filth”.
Packer, who sold his stake in Crown Resorts in 2022, told Rampart that Andrews’ actions in the final weeks of the company’s sale to Blackstone caused major turmoil.
“Daniel Andrews is about my least favourite person in the world. I think Daniel Andrews not only ruined Victoria, he almost ruined my life,” he said.
Packer claims that just three weeks before the deal was finalised, Andrews’ government changed Crown’s tax rates, costing the company $50 million and providing no compensation.
“It’s a miracle that Blackstone didn’t activate the material adverse change clause. I thought that was appalling behaviour.”
Blackstone ultimately purchased Crown Resorts for $8.9 billion in 2022, but Packer says the incident has left lasting anger.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Daniel Andrews in person and speaking far more aggressively than I am,” he said.
“What he’s done to the balance sheet of Victoria is impossible to fix.”
The outburst marks a huge turnaround in their relationship. The pair were once friendly, and even went golfing together, with Packer previously praising Andrews as “great for Victoria”.
Now, that view has changed significantly, with Packer saying: “I couldn’t speak more lowly of Daniel Andrews.”
“I think he’s human filth … I hope he sues me.”
Andrews resigned as premier in 2023 after nearly nine years in the top job, handing over to Jacinta Allan.
While he unleashed the attack on the former Victorian Premier, Packer is unlikely to bump into him any time soon as he is currently at his estate in Argentina recovering from a cardiac arrest episode in October.
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