Andrews’ surprise resignation comes just shy of a year after he led the centre-left Labor party to a third consecutive win in November elections in Australia’s second-most populous state. He said the job had “consumed and defined” him.

“It’s not an easy job, being premier of our state. That is not a complaint, it’s just a fact,” Andrews told a televised media conference.

“It requires 100% from you and your family. That of course is time-limited and now is the time to step away,” he said. “To a certain extent, every waking moment is about the work and that takes a toll.”

Andrews is the longest-serving Labor premier of Victoria, and his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic was criticised by some residents for the stop-start lockdowns that shut down state capital Melbourne for a total of 262 days.

He said lawmakers from the Labor party, which is currently in power in the federal government, would elect his successor on Wednesday.