‘So much ego’: Guy Sebastian says Brad Hazzard ‘treating public like idiots’

ARIA award-winning singer Guy Sebastian has accused NSW health minister Brad Hazzard of treating the public ‘like idiots in this mess of an outbreak’.

Singer Guy Sebastian has taken aim at NSW health minister Brad Hazzard after yesterday’s parliamentary inquiry into the handling of Sydney’s current Covid crisis.

In a series of tweets, the ARIA award-winning singer accused Mr Hazzard of being “defensive” and treating the public “like idiots” after a testy exchange with committee members involving chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant.

“Why are politicians like Brad Hazard (sic) talking to the people he serves like they are idiots? To be incapable of admitting that you played a part in this mess of an outbreak is one thing, but to continue to bark at us as the self appointed smartest person in the room is abhorrent,” Sebastian wrote.

“I actually couldn’t believe what I was watching. No need for so much ego and defensiveness.”

Guy Sebastian has taken aim at the NSW health Minister. Picture Dean Martin

During the hearing, Mr Hazzard and Dr Chant were questioned about their handling of NSW’s growing Covid-19 outbreak.

At one point, he dismissed questions directed at him from the committee chair and Greens MP David Shoebridge as “silly” and “a waste of time”.

Why are politicians like Brad Hazard talking to the people he serves like they are idiots? To be incapable of admitting that you played a part in this mess of an outbreak is one thing, but to continue to bark at us as the self appointed smartest person in the room is abhorrent.

— Guy Sebastian (@GuySebastian) August 10, 2021

I actually couldn’t believe what I was watching. No need for so much ego and defensivenesss.

— Guy Sebastian (@GuySebastian) August 10, 2021

The hearing was held after Dr Chant revealed the state’s worst daily Covid-19 figures, with 356 new local cases, and more than six week after the Sydney lockdown began.

She revealed that after the spread of the Delta strain of Covid-19 was first discovered in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on June 16, she waited nine days before advising the government to lock down the area.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a two-week lockdown of Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong on June 25.

Exchange... the health Minister and chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant yesterday.

The Delta strain of Covid-19 was first discovered in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on June 16.

Mr Hazzard said a superspreader party in West Hoxton in Western Sydney was the catalyst that put the city on a path to lockdown.

“With the benefit of hindsight, I think it’s easy to say there was a greater risk of a seeding event in southwestern Sydney than was appreciated at the time it emerged,” Dr Chant said.

Last month, Sebastian slammed the federal government for allegedly using him as a “prop”.

In June last year, The Voice star appeared alongside Prime Minister Scott Morrison when the government announced funding for the arts sector after the pandemic first hit.

Only $49.5 million of the $250 million rescue package that was initially promised was allocated.

“I’m embarrassed that I was used as a prop to push something that to be honest they haven’t done the due diligence on to make sure it’s actually getting to the people that need it. It was just a box that was ticked,” Sebastian said.