Coronavirus NSW: Premier Gladys Berejiklian comes under fire for cancelling full meeting of Cabinet

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has come under fire for cancelling the full meeting of Cabinet on Monday with just a handful of ministers set to attend the scheduled Narooma gathering.  It comes as NSW Health confirms 20 additional cases of coronavirus in NSW since Friday.

• Melbourne Grand Prix postponed
• 1.5 million people in NSW to get COVID-19

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has come under fire for cancelling the full meeting of Cabinet on Monday with just a handful of ministers set to attend the scheduled Narooma gathering. 

The decision came as her Victorian counterparts met today to discuss tough new measures to deal with the rapidly evolving coronavirus pandemic.

The move was seized on by Labor treasury spokesman Walt Secord who renewed his calls for the government to release its long-awaited stimulus package as the NSW number of coronavirus cases hits 112.

Labor treasury spokesman Walt Secord renewed his calls for the government to release its long-awaited stimulus package.

Gladys Berejiklian (second from right) is pictured during a press conference announcing that all mass gatherings of 500 people or more are cancelled from Monday 16th of March. Picture: AAP

"South Australia, Queensland and the Federal governments as well as the United States, China, Germany and Canada have all announced assistance packages, however, there are nothing but excuses and delays from NSW," he said.

“I am absolutely perplexed. It should be all hands on deck. We are in extraordinary times and in extraordinary circumstances.

“Even the tiny government in the Northern Territory is working on a coronavirus business support package in Darwin.

 

“The Victorian State Labor Cabinet has cancelled leave and are working over the weekend, but the Berejiklian Government seems to have taken the weekend off and are sitting on the sofa.”

A government source said the Cabinet meeting had been organised as part of the government visiting fire-ravaged reason in the wake of the bushfire crisis.

But with the rapidly escalating coronavirus situation, the premier has asked key ministers to stay in Sydney, the source said.

The source said the premier would still be attending the region as promised. 

While Victorian minister were meeting, many NSW ministers appeared to be focussed on their own portfolio matters.

Deputy premier John Barilaro, Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello, Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor, Acting Sports Minister Geoff Lee and Transport Minister Andrew Constance will tomorrow meet with a local sporting group in Eden to announce a mental health in sport initiative.

Originally published as Coronavirus NSW: Premier Gladys Berejiklian comes under fire for cancelling full meeting of Cabinet

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