Backdown over triple-vaxxed parents reveals animosity between Daniel Andrews and James Merlino

This latest gaffe from the Andrews government shows just how badly James Merlino is being sidelined after his all-too-successful stint as Acting Premier.

The State Government’s embarrassing triple-vax parents backdown reveals, once again, the growing animosity between Premier Daniel Andrews and his deputy James Merlino.

Insiders say Merlino was well-liked and impressive during his stint in the top job while Andrews was laid-up with a bad back last year.

Since then Merlino has been increasingly sidelined, delivering policy crumbs while his boss basks in the glory of the big school announcements.

His office and the Education Department at times do not appear to even be informed or consulted about major decisions affecting the management of Covid in schools.

Today’s policy about-face illustrates this once again.

The front page story in the Herald Sun on Wednesday stated that parents to be triple-vaxxed before they can enter school buildings and attend events.

The Herald Sun gave the government at least 48 hours’ notice of its intention to publish the story.

The mandate, if applied, would have blocked up to two-thirds of parents in some areas from attending their children’s graduations, information nights and concerts.

The Herald Sun was repeatedly told the mandate was correct by staffers in the Education Department and in the office of James Merlino, Education Minister, even as late as 6pm on Tuesday night.

Insiders claim James Merlino was well-liked and impressive during his stint as Acting Premier. Picture: Ian Currie

It was published on a Department of Education website page detailing rules government visitors and volunteers to schools.

But when the article was published on Wednesday amid a widespread outcry from parents, Andrews immediately said the website was “wrong” and “comes from confusion”.

He then handballed the issue to Merlino.

“As for parents, rather than adding to anything less than clarity, I’ll get the Education Minister to deal with that,” he said.

“I concede to you that there’s a line on the website that is ambiguous. It’s wrong, I think is the better way to put it.”

“That was drawn to our attention by the news coverage today, it wasn’t raised with us yesterday. If it had been, we probably could have cleared it up. We will now clear it and up the Education Minister is the person to do that.”

The Herald Sun did repeatedly raise the issue and it was not “cleared up”.

There’s no doubt the mandate would have been unpopular with parents and difficult for schools to enforce.

The additional requirement of being triple-vaxxed would have placed another burden on staff, because people would have had go into their Medicare digital record to show the vaccination dates, not just show the green tick.

School staff have better things to do than require people to use QR codes when there’s no contact tracing or to show proof of three vaccinations.

There is also no justification for it.

The latest gaffe from the government reveals the rising animosity between Andrews and Merlino.. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Thousands of Covid-positive parents are not crowding onto campuses and spreading the virus at concerts, information nights and school dances.

Parents should be trusted to stay home if they have Covid, if they have symptoms or if they are close contacts.

Other states and countries are not continuing to control their citizens in this way, and nor should Victoria.

When will it end? When we get a fourth jab in May? A fifth in July? A sixth in September?

Andrews now needs to consult with Merlino and education officials on what’s best for schools.

The next backdown should be masks.

Masks for younger kids should also be removed given that they are at much less risk of being sick with the virus.

Masks are hot, uncomfortable and a barrier to good communication.

The requirement for household contacts to be at home and miss a week of school should also be abolished – if siblings test negative and have no symptoms then they should be able to go back to campus.

At this point schools are not major battlegrounds for the spread of Covid. Kids get it but don’t get sick. There are just a handful of cases in each school which are easily managed at home.

For two years now, Andrews has controlled us, directed us, penalised us and restrained us. Everyone – including his own minister – is sick of his despotic approach.