EXCLUSIVE
Jim’s Mowing boss Jim Penman has officially cancelled Dan Andrews at his company and told the ex-Victorian premier he is banned from using any of the franchise king’s services.
Mr Penman is the latest in a growing list of business owners including multiple hospitality heavyweights to publicly ban Andrews.
The franchise king told Daily Mail Australia he had cancelled Andrews and ‘believes all of Victoria’ should blacklist the former pollie too.
‘If I was on the tools, I wouldn’t work for him, and I’d encourage any franchisee or independent contractor to do the same,’ Mr Penman said.
‘He threw over 100,000 independent contractors out of work for two months, without ANY form of health advice – as has now been proved by our lawsuit.
‘I’ll be very pleased to think he may have to mow his own lawn, clean his own house and cook his own dinner but I’m sure there’s someone out there who likes him who’ll do it for him.
‘It must be humiliating for him [getting backlisted]. He was all powerful sitting on his throne at Spring St, wagging his fingers saying who can work and who can’t – but people now have the power.’
Jim’s Mowing boss has ‘cancelled’ Dan Andrews.
Jim Penman is the latest in a growing list of business owners including multiple hospitality heavyweights to publicly ban Dan Andrews (pictured with wife Catherine)
The iconic Jim’s Mowing Aussie company is now out of bounds for Andrews
Mr Penman also said he thought it was ‘personally a good idea’ for Andrews to quit Victoria after his exit from politics and his new role as chair of youth mental health trust, Orygen.
‘I would hope he leaves… he’s running out of options, I would recommend he leave Victoria, the amount of damage he has done to this state is immeasurable,’ he said.
‘It’s the state that’s the most hostile to do business in … the guy is a disaster.
‘It’s also ludicrous this business of Andrews running this mental health organisation its like letting rapists run women shelters or paedophiles running childcare centres.
‘Andrews has done more to undermine mental health than anyone in the state’s history… I’ve seen the affects first hand, I’ve seen people lose homes and families… I actually know these people.’
Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed on Thursday that ex-AFL star Paul Dimattina, who runs popular South Melbourne venue Lamaro’s Hotel, had banned Andrews from his venue.
Mr Dimattina also said the former premier was ‘easily the most hated person’ in the Victoria as it is revealed multiple restaurant owners had refused service to Mr Andrews and his wife Cath.
‘No hope Andrews would get a seat at my pub,’ Mr Dimattina told Daily Mail Australia.
‘If he walked in and sat down… the Lamaro’s crowd would be disgusted if they saw him… Andrews is hated because of his whole anti-business stance.
Hospitality heavyweight Paul Dimattina banned Andrews from his pub Lamaro’s Hotel
Dimattina in his playing days for the Western Bulldogs.
‘The trail of destruction Andrews left is still being felt today, small businesses closed down, endless lockdowns, critical healthcare neglected, children missing out on school… he didn’t help anyone.
‘Mental health went downhill and now Andrews has a job in mental health if you can believe that.’
Mr Dimattina, who followed his 131-game AFL career by taking charge of the restaurant and produce empire founded by his father Frank, said Andrews also ‘absolutely crippled’ the hospitality industry.
He became a leading voice opposing Victoria’s Covid response as Mr Andrews imposed the world’s longest periods of lockdown.
His attitude toward the government’s Covid response was further soured when he spent time in intensive care following a negative reaction to a vaccine booster shot.
‘Business was decimated, the CBD is a ghost town, once thriving restaurants are boarded up, its the same at every high street, Chapel St, Lygon St, there’s empty businesses everywhere,’ he said.
‘What Andrews did is he made running a small business not an easy thing… he’d be better off leaving the state, I’m sure there’s some people who still love him, lefties and that, but he’s not welcome anywhere and we’ll all be better off without seeing him here.’
Andrews’ latest ban is a negative sign for his hopes of dining out in Melbourne given Dimattina’s family own, and have owned, multiple restaurants in the city including along the famous Lygon Street precinct.
Inside Mr Dimattina’s swanky South Melbourne gastropub
Andrews’ latest ban is a negative sign for his hopes of dining out in Melbourne given Dimattina’s family own, and have owned, multiple restaurants in the city including along the famous Lygon Street precinct (stock image above)
Meanwhile, restaurateur Chris Lucas revealed he told Andrews’ wife Cath ‘not available’ after she called up to book a table at his Windsor eatery Hawker Hall located at the once bustling Melbourne Chapel St precinct during the Covid lockdown.
Mr Lucas also revealed Di Stasio, a famed Melbourne restaurant group that is not part of his hospitality group, also refused Andrews a booking for his birthday around the same period.
And its not only hospitality venues blacklisting Andrews.
Prestigious National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula banned Andrews from joining and there was also rumours exclusive Portsea Golf Club knocked back the ex premier.
Melbourne golfers were outraged by the Victorian government’s ban on the sport during lockdown, despite it being in the open air with large distances between players and providing a rare outlet for exercise.
Andrews was Victorian Premier for almost nine years before he resigned in late 2023 and he has taken on a new role at Orygen, a mental health organisation.
