Gladys Berejiklian rejects Scott Morrison’s offers of Defence troops to help contain Covid

Scott Morrison personally offered Premier Gladys Berejiklian Australian Defence Force reinforcements multiple times to help contain the rapidly-spreading virus.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison personally offered Premier Gladys Berejiklian Australian Defence Force reinforcements to help contain the rapidly-spreading virus only for the offer to be rejected.

The Telegraph has confirmed Mr Morrison made the offer of troops on July 7.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made multiple offers for support from ADF troops. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

After Ms Berejiklian rejected ADF support on July 7, it can be revealed Mr Morrison again offered defence assistance the following day, July 8 which the Premier again rejected.

During the conversation between the two leaders, Mr Morrison also offered the Premier 300,000 vaccines — 150,000 each of Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

It is understood the NSW government has yet to use the additional supplies of AstraZeneca.

The revelation comes amid escalating tensions between the NSW and federal government over Ms Berejiklian’s handling of the “Bondi cluster”, which has now spread across Sydney’s wester and southwestern suburbs, with the Greater Sydney residents now facing the prospect of restrictions until October.

Police decided the assistance of Defence Force personnel wasn’t required. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Friday afternoon confirmed Ms Berejiklian passed on an offer for Australian Defence Force assistance on July 7, but that police declined pre-planning had already begun for a major police operation which launched on July 9.

“I reiterate my support for the close relationship NSW Police has with the ADF, particularly working through the bushfires,” he said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian turned down the offer of assistance. Picture: Mick Tsikas/Getty

“That has continued throughout the Covid pandemic, including the close co-operation in the hotel quarantine operation and logistics support in the Police Operations Centre where ADF personnel continue to be essential in terms of the NSW Police operation.

“However, it was determined the police operational response didn’t require external assistance in the south western Sydney operation given the transmission of the virus was between household contacts, not primarily occurring on the streets.”

Commissioner Fuller thanked Mr Morrison for his support.

NSW Police Minister David Elliott said he supported the position taken by Commissioner Fuller.

In Victoria, ADF members were deployed as part of Operation Covid-19 Assist to help the Victorian Department of Health visit positive cases, close contacts and returned travellers, to ensure they were aware of their status while providing information and support services they might have required while isolating.

Originally published as Gladys Berejiklian rejects Scott Morrison’s offers of Defence troops to help contain Covid