Coronavirus live updates: Daniel Andrews’ secret texts revealed

Texts between Daniel Andrews and his Chief of Staff, sent the first night of the bungled hotel quarantine program, have been released.

Text messages exchanged between Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his Chief of Staff, sent the first night of the bungled hotel quarantine program have been revealed.

 

The text exchange, published by The Australian, show Mr Andrews asking his staffer Lissie Ratcliff about the hotel quarantine program.

Mr Andrews texted Ms Ratcliffe on March 27, at 8.26pm:

“How are we going on hotels and midnight tomorrow? Do we have many flights tomorrow. Call if you need to.”

Ms Ratfcliffe replied:

“I’ll have updates tonight on-number of rooms-transportation guidelines for leaving rooms-protection for workers-number of expected arrivals / flights for Sunday.

“It’ll only apply to flights landing after midnight so anyone coming in during the day won’t be caught up.

“Will get you an update as soon as it comes through.”

Mr Andrews said in an affidavit to the Hotel Quarantine Inquiry he did not make the decision to use private security guards at quarantine hotels.

He said he doesn’t have a role in “operational” decisions.

The final report will be handed down on December 21.

It comes as Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has shared an emotional post on Twitter, saying “mistakes were made” in his team’s response to the second wave.

But Professor Sutton stood by the measures taken by he and the Premier, saying “the alternative was more illness and longer or repeated lockdown”.

“This is rightly worthy of celebration. After the toughest year for many Victorians, it’s important to recognise this achievement,” he tweeted, as Victoria reached its 28th day without a new case of COVID-19.

“It took all of us to get here and it was a long and painful journey but we held the course. I can’t thank Victorians enough for that.”

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