Shannon Deery: How Mikakos’ latest blow could do real harm to Daniel Andrews
Former health minister Jenny Mikakos has reached out from the pit of the ministerial graveyard and taken her biggest swipe yet. And it could seriously hurt Premier Daniel Andrews, writes Shannon Deery.
Opinion
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Former health minister Jenny Mikakos might have left Spring St, but she hasn’t gone quietly.
In the weeks since her bombshell resignation Mikakos has more than once caused a stir with mischievous tweets designed to embarrass Daniel Andrews.
But submissions filed to the Hotel Quarantine Inquiry today have gone a step further.
Essentially, Mikakos has reached out from the pit of the ministerial graveyard and taken her biggest swipe yet.
And it could seriously harm the Premier.
In her 14 page submission Mikakos has at worst accused her former boss of lying to the inquiry, and at best of seriously misleading it.
Key aspects of his evidence, she argues, must be treated with caution.
In particular, his evidence about the reference to using private security at the now infamous March 27 press conference.
He said he didn’t know why he mentioned private security.
“It is respectfully submitted that the Board ought to treat with caution the Premier’s evidence where he sought to explain the reference to the use of private security in the Hotel Quarantine Program made by him during his media conference that commenced at 3 pm on 27 March 2020,” lawyers for Ms Mikakos said.
“It is submitted that had the decision not already been made by that time, the Premier would not have announced the use of private security in the program,” they said.
“In this regard, it is observed that no evidence was led about what briefings were provided to the Premier by his office in advance of that media conference.”
Telling an inquiry to “treat with caution” evidence by Premier is minister speak for “he’s lying”.
Her political career in tatters, it seems Mikakos now has no fear.
Certainly, she has nothing to lose.
While she’s also hit out at her former department, and fellow ministers, it’s the Premier who cops the brunt of her anger in her submissions.
Mikakos, a former close factional ally, has turned.
Damning of his subversion of ordinary Cabinet process to setup the program.
And scathing of a culture in which she feared payback had she dared to cross examine either ministers or department secretaries at the inquiry.
And herein lies the problem.
Mikakos had the opportunity to set the record straight but was afraid of the political payback.
In the end she lost her job, and Victoria is none the wiser.
But in her exit Mikakos seems determined to take the Premier down with her, now seemingly unconcerned by any payback.
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