Hunt: no need for emergency national cabinet meeting on outbreak

The Health Minister has resisted calls for emergency Commonwealth action as the COVID-19 outbreak on Sydney’s northern beaches worsens.

An emergency national cabinet meeting to discuss Sydney’s coronavirus outbreak is not on the agenda, according to the Health Minister.

National cabinet met multiple times a week at the height of the COVID-19 crisis, via videolink until recently, but the gatherings have tapered off as case numbers got under control.

While the next meeting is scheduled for February, New South Wales has confirmed the northern beaches cluster has risen to 83 cases.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Sunday she would push for a meeting to be convened if the NSW situation continued to escalate.

Annastacia Palaszczuk will push for an emergency National Cabinet meeting if NSW case numbers continue to climb. Picture: Steve Pohlner

But federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has resisted calls for an emergency meeting, insisting the nation’s medical expert panel was already meeting daily to monitor the situation.

“There’s daily engagement between the Commonwealth and all of the states through the medical expert panel and we continue to work with colleagues, we continue to provide Commonwealth support,” he told Sky News.

“(There are) 1500 Defence Force (officers) around the country, an extra 50 being provided to Victoria, 350 in Queensland, 380 in New South Wales. The additional contingent will take it to 285 now in Victoria.

“So right now, that engagement could not be deeper, closer, or more thorough.”

Greg Hunt has resisted calls for an emergency national cabinet meeting. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Geraghty

It comes after state and territories slapped their own restrictions on travellers from NSW.

Western Australia reimposed a hard border on the whole state on Sunday morning, while Victoria and Queensland have barred all residents of Greater Sydney from entry.

Tasmania and South Australia will force arrivals from Greater Sydney to undergo 14 days quarantine.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has pleaded with states to show “compassion” in their response to the evolving situation.

Gladys Berejiklian has pleaded for ‘compassion’ from other states in their response. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

But despite the varied responses, she said none contradicted the position of national cabinet.

“National cabinet is given advice … (and) guidelines, and it’s up to every state Premier to make decisions based on that,” she said on Monday.

“That’s why I’m pleading with them to consider the facts, to be compassionate, and to look at the way in which we’ve responded when things have happened in their states.

“We responded in a proportionate way and I just ask other states to consider that as well.

“In the case of Victoria, they had over 140 cases before we actually made the difficult decision to close the border.”