Victoria Covid-19 lockdown: Politicians, health leaders don’t get small business pressures

Political and health leaders behind Victoria’s multiple lockdowns, actually have little business world experience. Here’s a look at their previous jobs.

With estimates Victoria’s lockdown is costing businesses $1 billion a week, the credentials of the key decision makers have been put under the microscope.

Critics of the harsh lockdown have pointed to a lack of business acumen among senior government ministers, saying they have no real idea about the consequences of their decisions.

Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said career politicians had no clue about the pressure felt by hard working business owners.

“Yet again, those who make the decision to lockdown, they suffer no loss, they get their full wages, their house price continues to rise and there is no threat to their livelihood as they are rewarded financially from the taxes paid of those now being asked to bear a cost that may well end their business,” he said.

“We hear a lot of talk of the importance of equality in our society — where is the equality when those who make the decisions thrive, while others are forced to suffer?”

Here’s a look at the backgrounds of Victoria’s top decision makers:

Premier, Daniel Andrews, of all top ministers, has the most experience with small business. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

DANIEL ANDREWS

PREMIER

(ON LEAVE SINCE MARCH 9)

Of all the government’s top ministers the Premier has the most experience with small business. He worked in his parents’ small business and drove trucks, sold hotdogs and worked in a bottle shop at university before entering politics as an electorate officer in 1996.

His parents ran a suburban mixed business before moving to country Victoria where they ran a small goods franchise.

“I know and understand, because I watched my parents do it, for every day of their working life, what it takes to build a business from nothing into a very successful business,” he has said.

“I’ve seen that up close and personal. I worked in those businesses from the moment I was old enough to — I thought it was probably a bit early, but I was there doing what I had to do and that is my background.”

Victorian Deputy Premier James Merlino was a local councillor between 1997 and 2002. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

JAMES MERLINO

ACTING PREMIER AND EDUCATION MINISTER

Of the eight ministers inside the crisis council, Merlino has probably got his hands the dirtiest as a former brickie’s labourer.

The job supported the Education Minister while he completed his university studies after which he worked as a union industrial officer representing retail workers.

He served as a local councillor between 1997 and his election to parliament in 2002.

Treasurer Tim Pallas MP was a Chief of Staff to Premier Steve Bracks. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

TIM PALLAS

TREASURER

After graduating from the Australian National University with an Arts/Law degree, Pallas worked with both the Federal Firefighters Union and the Storemen and Packers Union.

Before entering parliament he went on to work as the Assistant Secretary of the ACTU before taking up a position as Chief of Staff to Premier Steve Bracks.

Minister for Health Martin Foley worked as a political staffer before joining parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie.

MARTIN FOLEY

HEALTH MINISTER

Immediately after finishing university, graduating with an Arts degree in history and politics, Foley joined the Australian Services Union where he worked from 1988-2003. He went on to work as a political staffer before ultimately joining parliament in 2007.

Minister for Sport, Martin Pakula studied economics and law at Monash University. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images.

MARTIN PAKULA

INDUSTRY SUPPORT AND RECOVERY MINISTER.

Pakula graduated with an economics degree before completing an honours degree in law at Monash.

He completed his articles then went on to join the National Union of Workers after an unsuccessful run at federal politics.

He spent more than a decade with the NUW before being elected to parliament in 2006.

At 25, Jacinta Allan was the youngest female parliamentarian in Victoria’s history. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Matray

JACINTA ALLAN

TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Allan has spent her life in politics since graduating with an Arts degree from La Trobe University.

She has been an MP for more than two decades since first being elected as the member for Bendigo East in 1999 at the age of just 25, the youngest female parliamentarian in Victoria’s history.

Before that she worked in the political offices of Steve Gibbons and Neil O’Keefe.

Minister Lisa Neville once worked as a social policy adviser to John Brumby. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

LISA NEVILLE

POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES MINISTER

(ON LEAVE SINCE FEBRUARY 13)

Neville spent her pre-parliament life working in the community sector, including as the manager of a neighbourhood centre, President of the Board of Barwon Health, and Chairman of the Barwon Network of Neighbourhood Houses.

She also worked as a social policy adviser to John Brumby during his time as opposition leader before obtaining a law degree and then entering parliament in 2002.

Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton had dreams of becoming a vet. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

BRETT SUTTON

CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER

Sutton had his eyes on a career as a vet before deciding to study medicine.

After graduating from Melbourne High School he studied medicine at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 1993.

He started worked for international humanitarian agency Medecins Sans Frontieres before moving into emergency medicine.

Most recently he has specialised in Public Health with a special interest in communicable diseases.