Daniel Andrews says he won’t resign, but it was “appropriate” for Mikakos to go
Premier Daniel Andrews says he won’t step down: “I don't run from problems and challenges.”
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Daniel Andrews says it was the “right decision” for Jenny Mikakos to resign from her position as health minister.
But he has firmly said he won’t be doing the same.
“No I will not,” he said on Saturday afternoon. “I don't run from problems and challenges.”
At his daily press conference the Victorian premier thanked Ms Mikakos and praised her as a “hardworking person”.
He had not asked her to step down, he said, and hadn’t spoken to her since she sent him a text about her resignation.
Mr Andrews repeated several times Ms Mikakos’ resignation was the “appropriate course of action” but demurred when asked why, saying the inquiry report would reveal all.
Ms Mikakos will be replaced as health minister by Martin Foley.
She resigned less than 24 hours after Mr Andrews told the hotel quarantine inquiry on Friday afternoon that Ms Mikakos was “primarily responsible” for the scheme.
In a one-page statement on Saturday morning Ms Mikakos said she strongly disagreed with elements of Mr Andrews’ evidence to the inquiry and she could not continue to serve in his cabinet.
Mr Andrews wouldn’t be drawn on the differences: “Her statement is her statement and if you want further information, only she can elaborate on that.”
He said he had full confidence in his top public servant Chris Eccles, despite telling the inquiry on Friday that Mr Eccles had not passed on an email outlining an offer of Australian Defence Force support from the federal government.
Ms Mikakos wrote in her statement that she was “deeply sorry” for the situation Victorians are in but “in good conscience, I do not believe that my actions led to them”.
She also wrote the “the buck stops with me” but said her department should have briefed her on certain things.
Her replacement, Mr Foley, was asked on Saturday if he had figured out how to get department secretary Kym Peake to tell him what was going on.
“I have nothing but confidence in the secretary and the department and I look forward to continuing a productive relationship with them,” he said.
The soon-to-be health minister answered only a couple of questions before a journalist asked for Mr Andrews to return to the podium, adding “Sorry Mr Foley. Congratulations.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison batted away questions on the state political drama on Saturday, saying it was not his role to get involved.
It comes as the state recorded 12 new coronavirus infections and one death ahead of Sunday’s easing of stage four lockdown restrictions.
The rolling 14-day average for Melbourne is now 23.6 and must be between 50 and 30 in order for restrictions to ease.
The additional death — a woman in her 80s in aged care — takes the state’s total to 782 and national figure to 870.
There are currently 482 active cases across Victoria with 10 of those in regional areas.
Currently, 53 people are in hospital with nine in ICU including five on ventilators.
Originally published as Daniel Andrews says he won’t resign, but it was “appropriate” for Mikakos to go