Rita Panahi: Federal funding would leave the whole country to pay for our stuff-ups

The federal government is right to knock back Victoria’s plea for lockdown cash. Why should the rest of the country pay for our leader’s stuff-ups?

Victoria isn’t just the lockdown state, it is fast becoming the welfare state with the Dan Andrews government again extending its hand for further federal funding.

Acting premier James Merlino and treasurer Tim Pallas unleashed an almighty tantrum on Sunday slamming the Scott Morrison government for failing to provide additional funding in response to Lockdown 4.

Merlino said Victorians should be “angry” with the prime minister and federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

“Victorian workers deserve more from the federal government, and I am beyond disappointed that the answer from the Prime Minister and from the Treasurer has been not to talk in further detail about the package,” he said.

Acting Premier James Merlino lashed the federal government for failing to provide lockdown funds. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“For the Prime Minister and the federal Treasurer to say ‘no’ is a disgrace and it should make every Victorian angry.”

But why should the rest of the country pay for the Victorian government’s malfeasance and disproportionate response?

Victoria has already received more assistance per capita than any other state and it’s a little rich for the Andrews government to expect further compensation after locking down the state instead of relying on its contact tracing regime as NSW has repeatedly done.

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has been criticised by other state premiers along with the usual media troglodytes for refusing to lockdown when faced with a growing cluster of infections.

But each and every time the state has safely and expertly contained the virus without needlessly destroying people’s livelihoods and liberties.

It would be a mistake to reward the Victorian government’s incompetence and panic stricken lunacy with more taxpayer dollars.

The decision to lockdown the state rests entirely with state Labor and it must be responsible for compensating the business community.

The $250 million business support package announced on Sunday is hopelessly inadequate.

It’s just another devastating blow for the state economy and long suffering businesses, investors and private sector workers.

Victoria could follow the example set by NSW in allowing a first class contact tracing system to contain the virus but it has on four occasions opted for the most destructive response in its arsenal; lockdown.

That decision only makes sense if Victoria’s revamped contact tracing program is still not up to standard.