Anthony Albanese faces questions on Daniel Andrews’ potential role as a diplomat after he resigned as Victorian Premier

Mr Albanese was asked at a press conference in Melbourne about whether his friend of almost three decades Mr Andrews would make a good diplomat for Australia overseas.

Mr Andrews quit as premier on Tuesday after almost nine years in office, and was replaced in the top job by his deputy and Socialist Left factional ally Jacinta Allan.

“I think Dan Andrews is going to make a good golfer in the immediate sense. When I spoke to Dan that is his intention, to take a bit of a break,” Mr Albanese said on Friday.

“Look, Daniel Andrews has enormous capacity and he will be successful in whatever endeavour he now embarks on in his future life.

“I’m looking forward to meeting Jacinta Allan in a couple of hours as Premier. I’ve known Jacinta for 25 years. She will make an extraordinary Premier of Victoria and that will be a fantastic thing.”

Ms Allan emerged victorious from the Labor partyroom on Wednesday afternoon after being elected leader unopposed, with the Right faction’s Ben Carroll as her deputy.

Mr Carroll had initially challenged for the leadership, sparking a messy factional dispute which involved Mr Andrews reportedly going on a “tirade” aimed at the Right. 

“Daniel exploded in caucus. His rant was second to none. It was f..king this, f..king that,” a senior Labor source told The Australian.

“He basically said to them: ‘You all have the right to aspire to be promoted. You don’t have the right to bring divisions into this room’.”

Mr Carroll ultimately withdrew from the race to be leader, with a compromise struck to ensure Ms Allan and Mr Carroll were eventually installed in their positions unopposed.

Mr Albanese indicated he was pleased the matter was swiftly sorted to avoid a drawn-out ballot and described the new leadership team as a “good outcome” for Victoria. 

“It was good that it was worked through in such a smooth way. I think that Jacinta Allan as Premier, Ben Carroll as Deputy, is a very good outcome,” he said.

“This is a very good government here in Victoria. It’s a government that makes a difference to the lives of Victorians, that’s building record infrastructure, that in the precinct pretty close to here is probably one of the world’s best medical research precincts.

“They’re developing good policies to increase housing supply. They have led on so many social policy issues and I look forward to continuing to work with the Victorian government and Jacinta Allan as Premier.”