Premier must show leadership on Harwin hypocrisy
A NSW Minister riding out the virus from his coastal holiday home doesn’t pass the pub test when families are giving up their basic freedoms to help stop the virus spread, writes Anna Caldwell.
Opinion
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Ministers were horrified last night upon learning that one of Gladys Berejiklian’s most senior ministers had relocated to his holiday home on the Central Coast to see out the public health crisis gripping the state.
Don Harwin’s spinners were desperate to point out that to the letter of the law, the minister — who pulled up stumps for the “fresh air” of his beach home — had not technically breached any rules.
That didn’t fly with his colleagues — and it won’t fly with voters.
“It’s arrogance and hubris he has to be called to account for,” a senior Liberal said.
“People can’t see their grandchildren and he thinks he’s above the law.”
Multiple high-placed sources tackling the COVID-19 crisis said the intention of the loophole Harwin relied on was not to allow temporary relocation to holiday homes but instead was for broken families to move between their own residences.
Indeed, the Harwin approach does not pass the pub test when NSW families are giving up their basic freedoms to do their bit to stop the virus spread.
And it’s an even harder sell when the premier, police commissioner, police minister and deputy premier have been out in force explicitly telling people not to go to their holiday homes.
As Deputy John Barilaro told me last night — if Harwin can retreat to his seaside home, what’s to stop everyone else relocating to investment properties and crippling the regional health system?
Berejiklian must show leadership on this matter. It is unfair to ask so much of regular people yet allow her friend and colleague to make moves so clearly at odds with her own public messaging.
Nevermind Harwin is the Arts Minister and his Sydney community is on its knees.
I’ll leave the final word to another minister who declared of Harwin’s explanation: “what a rubbish excuse”.