Daniel Andrews denies muzzling chief health officers Brett Sutton and Ben Cowie
Dan Andrews has denied Brett Sutton and Ben Cowie are being silenced, despite media requests to discuss soaring Covid cases with the health experts being refused.
Victoria
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Daniel Andrews insists his government isn’t muzzling Brett Sutton or Ben Cowie, despite the Department of Health rejecting multiple requests for the state’s chief health officers to front the media.
The Premier on Tuesday maintained that such decisions weren’t a “matter of government policy”.
The state’s deputy chief health officer, Professor Ben Cowie, had been filling in while Brett Sutton was away for three weeks.
However, several media outlets have reported their requests to speak with the health experts had been refused by the Department of Health.
It’s understood Professor Cowie gave one 20 minute interview with ABC Radio last week.
The media had wanted to put questions to the top health officers about soaring Covid and flu cases and hospitalisations, as well as the Andrews government’s decision to not follow health advice and implement mask mandates in a variety of settings.
Asked why Professor Sutton or Professor Cowie had not been made available for a press conference given Victoria was in the grips of a winter surge of illness and infection, Mr Andrews said that wasn’t a decision made by his government.
“I’m not his press secretary. He’s perfectly capable of answering your questions,” he said on Tuesday.
“He’s got quite a bit on, and talking to the media is a critically important part of his role, but it’s not the only part of his role.
“I’m happy to follow it up for you.”
The Herald Sun on Tuesday put in requests to the Department of Health for an interview with Professor Sutton.
Professor Sutton returned from his leave on Friday, taking to Twitter to say “good to be back on this platform to talk public health”.
“Key message is that we’re in the midst of a damned Covid wave again,” he wrote.
“So buckle up.”
Professor Sutton urged people to meet in outdoor settings, or ensure doors and windows were left open when indoors.
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