Victoria’s victory is no one else’s: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg

The federal parliament has commended Victorians for their work to curb the second coronavirus wave, but one speech wasn’t so well received.

Victoria’s second day with zero new coronavirus cases is “their victory and no one else’s”, Josh Frydenberg says.

The parliament erupted during question time on Tuesday after the Treasurer gave an impassioned speech.

“The Victorian people have suffered so much, the pain, the cost, the loss of Victorian people. It should have never have come to this,” Mr Frydenberg shouted.

“The comparison is not with the United Kingdom, the comparison is not with the United States, the comparison is with NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia.”

Mr Frydenberg said children in Victoria had lost six months of schooling and 800 people had died.

“It all comes back to the failures in hotel quarantine for which we still do not have any answers to,” he said.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said: ‘I am from Victoria, and I am for Victoria’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

But politicians from across the chamber weren’t having it.

“You’re a conspiracy theorist,” one Labor MP yelled.

“What a disgraceful rant,” another shouted.

“Are you happy with his rant ScoMo?” another said.

The outbursts came after the opposition moved a motion commending the people of Victoria for the sacrifices they have made during the pandemic.

The sacrifices made by Victorians have kept every Australian safe.

From a grateful nation, we say thank you.

Here's the motion I just moved in Federal Parliament. pic.twitter.com/sp4O2f4uWu

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) October 27, 2020

It also congratulated them for their achievement in overcoming the second coronavirus wave.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said Victoria took the “sensible position” of waiting until the coronavirus tests from Melbourne’s northern suburbs came through to lift restrictions.

“And they came through with a beautiful figure, zero, a big doughnut,” he said.

“Today that’s turned into a bagel, zero zero.

“Two days in a row in which they have been no new cases and because of that, tonight at 11.59pm, Victoria opens back up.

“We wish all Victorians well going forward. We ask that this be conveyed to the Victorian Premier on behalf of the Victorian people and we say well done.”

Dan Andrews with a doughnut to mark zero new coronavirus cases. Picture: Twitter

The Morrison government said it would support the motion, with Scott Morrison adding that it was right for the parliament to “congratulate and to thank Victorians” for the way they have conducted themselves over the many difficult months.

“I welcome the reopening of Victoria and endurance and the sacrifice of Victorians and the way they were able to work through this issue,” the Prime Minister said.

“There are so many Victorians who will carry the scars of this lockdown for years to come.

“At Christmas, I want Australians to come around the table and talk about 2021 with positivity, with hope, with aspiration, looking forward to what they will do … God bless Australia.”

Liberal backbench MP Trent Zimmerman defended Mr Frydenberg’s speech saying the Treasurer “clearly reflected the views of hundreds of thousands of Victorians” who had endured the lockdowns.