Daniel Andrews Dismisses Allegations of 2013 Car Accident Cover-Up

Daniel Andrews, the former premier of Victoria, Australia, and his wife Catherine have responded strongly to claims made in a newly surfaced report about a car accident in 2013. The report was compiled by Dr. Raymond Shuey, a former assistant police commissioner, shortly before his passing. It was part of a legal case involving Ryan Meuleman, a teenager injured during the incident, who is presently suing his former lawyers over the handling of his compensation claim.

The couple released a joint statement criticizing the media coverage by the Herald Sun, which reported on Shuey’s findings. They dismissed these as “conspiracy theories” and emphasized that both Victoria Police and the state’s integrity watchdog have previously investigated the incident thoroughly, clearing them of any wrongdoing.

Catherine Andrews was driving a government-provided SUV when it collided with Meuleman’s bicycle. At the time, Daniel Andrews was the opposition leader, accompanied by his family in the vehicle. The report alleges an “overt cover-up” by authorities to shield a political figure, a point heavily disputed by the Andrews family in their statement.

Meuleman had settled for compensation worth $80,000 from the Transport Accident Commission in 2022. He accuses his former legal representatives, Slater & Gordon, of inadequately investigating the details of the crash, which he believes could have resulted in a larger settlement claim. This ongoing court matter is set to be addressed in the Supreme Court.

Dr. Shuey’s report suggests that the vehicle implicated in the accident was moving between 40km/h and 50km/h as it hit the cyclist, contrary to the couple’s account that they had stopped completely before proceeding. The report suspects a lack of proper investigation by attending police, including their failure to conduct breath tests, contrary to standard procedures. Despite these claims, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) has previously cleared the police of any misconduct.

A spokesperson for Victoria Police reiterated the consistency of past investigations and refused to comment further. Similarly, Slater & Gordon declined to comment, citing pending legal proceedings. Attempts to contact the Meuleman family via their legal representative for additional insight remain unaddressed.