In 1971 he left Riverstone to study economics at the Australian National University in Canberra and joined the then Department of Foreign Affairs in 1975.
[citation needed] During his eleven years as a diplomat, Andrews completed long term postings as a political officer in Tehran, Iran, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
[1] While he was Director, Glebe lifted its ban on investing in uranium mining, which, according to Bloomberg, was based "partly on concern increasing use of oil and coal is contributing to pollution and global warming."
[12] Business Day called the similarities between the excerpts of his planned novel Lockhart Road and the scandal surrounding Trio Capital "striking".
[13] Andrews has also written poems about the Trio Capital scandal which the Sydney Morning Herald describes as showing that the events have apparently left him "scarred (and slightly embittered)".