Premier Daniel Andrews says he would be ‘happy’ to appear before Covid inquiry

Daniel Andrews has said he would fully cooperate with a national inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying he is committed to learning from the “terrible” period.

Premier Daniel Andrews has said he would be “happy” to appear at a federal probe into the Covid pandemic response.

“Our government will absolutely support the work they’re doing,” he said.

“We will be a part of that, we will co-operate fully.

“It will be up to them (as to) who they call and what they call for.

“I’m absolutely 100 per cent committed to working together, learning whatever we can from that terrible, challenging period.”

Asked if he was relieved that individual state responses wouldn’t be examined, Mr Andrews said: “I think that frame is particularly unhelpful and what more I think just suspends the logic of this. They’re the federal government. It’s not for them to look into the states.”

It comes as Victoria’s former chief health officer Brett Sutton said on Thursday he would be “disappointed” if a national inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic did not probe the value of lockdowns.

Premier Daniel Andrews said he’d be “happy” to appear at a federal probe into the Covid pandemic response. Picture: David Crosling

Professor Sutton, who has previously acknowledged he holds some regrets about the handling of the pandemic, has also said he expects to be called to give evidence to the inquiry.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an independent inquiry into the handling of Covid-19 on Thursday, saying it was important to learn the lessons of how the pandemic was handled so the nation was prepared for the next one.

The federal opposition has accused the opposition for running a “protection racket” for premiers by opting for an inquiry instead of a royal commission which has the power to compel witnesses.

Professor Sutton, who now works with the CSIRO, said it would be “totally appropriate” for the inquiry to probe if lockdowns were worthwhile.

“I would be disappointed if we didn’t go to those really important issues,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne on Thursday.

Professor Sutton, who has previously acknowledged he holds some regrets about the handling of the pandemic. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“There shouldn’t be shyness about asking the tough questions for those things that were most disruptive.

“As they should about quarantine, as they should about international travel and the closing of the country, as they should about the right communications and the right policy settings to maximise vaccine coverage, how you deal with misinformation and disinformation and all the rest.”

Professor Sutton said while the inquiry should be wide ranging, it’s ultimate goal should be to provide advice on how the nation should handle future pandemics.

“I think they need to look at everything that we have done but absolutely with the view of what might face us in the future – there is no question that we will have pandemics ongoing,” he said.

“They (lockdowns) were really impactful in the way that they applied across society but this is a pandemic that has killed at least 20m people globally so let’s ask all the questions that are relevant so that we can be really well informed about how best to handle it going forward.

“I am expecting a call, again I would be disappointed if they didn’t come to me.”

Professor Sutton took on the chief health officer role in 2019 and become the face of Victoria’s pandemic response.

He was responsible for overseeing what was at one point the world’s longest lockdown and was behind some of the toughest restrictions imposed on Melburnians such as closing playgrounds and imposing a strict curfew.

Originally published as Premier Daniel Andrews says he would be ‘happy’ to appear before Covid inquiry