Anger grows at Premier over Melbourne’s new lockdown
Despite a growing public backlash over a return to lockdown in Melbourne, Premier Daniel Andrews is refusing to back down over his comments blaming Victorians for the new restrictions. Now some are calling for him to resign.
VIC News
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Premier Daniel Andrews has refused to backtrack from blaming Victorians for Melbourne’s second lockdown, despite a public backlash and the failings of his government’s hotel quarantine bungle.
Announcing the lockdown on Tuesday, Mr Andrews said: “Each of us know someone who has not been following the rules as well as they should have.”
Asked whether public confidence had been eroded in the wake of the quarantine scandal linked to the latest major outbreaks, he said he accepted responsibility but he referred to a judicial inquiry to deflect focus.
The Premier’s comments sparked a public backlash.
Retired Western Bulldogs footballer Paul Dimattina, who owns Lamaro’s Hotel in South Melbourne, said Mr Andrews should resign for blaming Victorians for the crisis.
“I was outraged when Daniel Andrews pointed the finger at all Victorians and not himself for managing this crisis so poorly,” he said.
“He has had a very militant approach that obviously hasn’t worked.”
Mr Dimattina said it was “very much survival of the fittest for the hospitality industry” as eateries were forced to revert to takeaway only but retailers were allowed to remain open.
On Wednesday, a sign was dangled over the Nepean Highway in Parkdale that said: “FU Daniel Andrews it’s your fault not ours”.
But the Premier held firm when asked if he regretted his comments and whether they unfairly blamed Victorians.
“Part of my job is to be as frank and as clear as I possibly can and that’s exactly what I’ve done,” he said. “I made a number of comments yesterday and I think that’s an accurate description of the way some people are behaving.
“That’s not every Victorian.”
Speaking about the inquiry into the hotel quarantine system, Mr Andrews said “there’s never been a doubt” he was accountable for what happened in Victoria.
Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett said although people were resigned to another lockdown, there was frustration.
“Not just because of the lockdown but because of the way they’ve seen themselves portrayed as responsible (for the outbreak),” he said.
“He (Andrews) expressed himself loosely at best.”
Ai Group Victorian director Tim Piper said the next six weeks of lockdown could be disastrous for businesses.
“This second wave is not like the first wave,” he said.
“We had companies that were willing to push through this initial period and they reinvested when they thought they saw a light at the tunnel.”
Community Safety Trustee Ron Iddles said the government was ultimately in charge of the flawed hotel quarantine system.
“Let’s not spend the money (on an inquiry), surely someone can put up their hand and accept accountability,” he wrote on Facebook
Coburg business owner Roger Smith said the government lacked transparency and had proved it was “ill prepared” by outsourcing the guarding of returned travellers to private security guards.
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