‘Doesn’t like the answer’: Daniel Andrews’ dig at Scott Morrison

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has taken a swipe at Scott Morrison over a major change to Covid rules that is on the horizon.

Scott Morrison has again deflected responsibility for Covid-19 rule changes to the state governments after he was criticised by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

Mr Andrews hit back at the Prime Minister on Tuesday after Mr Morrison said the decision to remove isolation requirements for close contacts of positive cases was one for the states rather than the commonwealth.

“It’s somebody else’s job? No. National cabinet – which is chaired by the commonwealth – asked AHPPC to have a look at this very issue,” Mr Andrews said.

“They made a judgment ‘not at this time’. Hopefully, that time comes and we’re able to make those changes.

“He’s (Scott Morrison) asked a question (to the AHPPC) on behalf of all of us … he doesn't like the answer and that was apparently my fault.”

The medical experts at the Australian health Protection Principal Committee said on Thursday they supported the “removal of routine quarantine requirements for all close contacts” but now was not the time to make those changes.

Many Australians are being sent into isolation as close contacts after someone they know tests positive for Covid. Picture: iStock

The recommended quarantine period for people deemed close contacts remains seven days.

Mr Morrison said later on Tuesday he had “always been a fan” of easing isolation rules but it was not a decision for his government to make.

“I know the impact it has on the economy of people not being able to go to work or the impact that goes with caring for children and the disruption that it has,” he told reporters in Sydney.

“And you know, premiers like prime ministers have to make decisions that weigh up all of those factors and I’d be encouraging them to do just that.”

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the state would not be ‘rushing’ to change its isolation requirements for Covid close contacts. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

It isn’t the first time Mr Morrison has sought to distance the commonwealth from stringent Covid-19 policies such as mandatory vaccinations that were enforced by the states but which his government has arguably benefited from.

Asked about the potential quarantine rule changes on Monday, Mr Morrison said it was premiers who decided to “shut cities down or open them up” rather than the federal government, prompting criticism from the Victorian Premier.

Mr Morrison jointly deliberated on the matter with state and territory leaders at a national cabinet meeting last month.

National cabinet made a united announcement it had agreed to scrap close contact isolation requirements as quickly as possible and would seek urgent advice from the AHPPC on how to do so.

Handing down its recommendations last week, the committee said altering quarantine requirements now would lead to more transmission in the community and potentially cause further disruptions to the health system.

It pointed to the weeks following the anticipated peak of the current Omicron wave as the “appropriate time” for changes to be made.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said state and territory leaders decided when mandatory isolation for Covid close contacts was no longer needed. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

In response, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard told The Sydney Morning Herald that the state had no immediate plans to change its quarantine rules.

“As Health Minister I wouldn’t be rushing to recommend to government that we change our position currently on close contacts,” Mr Hazzard said on Monday.

Victorian government minister Jaala Pulford said the same after Richmond AFL coach Damien Hardwick called for the mandatory seven-day quarantine period for close contacts to be scrapped.

“To prematurely make these changes isn’t without risks to the health system. It’s not without risks to the health of the people in our community,” Ms Pulford said.

Originally published as ‘Doesn’t like the answer’: Daniel Andrews’ dig at Scott Morrison