Blaming families a new low for Daniel Andrews: Opposition

Victoria’s Premier has been slammed for ‘blaming families for his own mismanagement of COVID-19.’

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos speak to the media on Saturday, announcing COVID restrictions coming back into effect.

Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien accused Mr Andrews of seeking to “blame Victorian families for his own incompetent mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic” in a “new political low”.

The Andrews government on Saturday announced it was reimposing COVID-19 restrictions after a two-month high in conronavirus cases, and citing large family gatherings as a major cause.

“Under Daniel Andrews, Victoria is the COVID capital of the country. For Daniel Andrews to blame that on Victorian families – rather than his own incompetence – is an absolute disgrace,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Daniel Andrews encouraged 10,000 Victorians to protest two weeks ago by promising that they would not be fined for attending.

“Now we see the consequences of Andrews’ hypocrisy and double standards.”

The Andrews government urged people not to attend the Black Lives Matter protest, held a fortnight ago, but backed a Victoria Police decision to impose fines on attendees for breaching COVID-19 restrictions.

Police only imposed $1652 on-the-spot fines on three organisers.

Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien says Daniel Andrews has bungled the pandemic in the state.

On-the-spot fines for businesses which breach COVID-19 guidelines are almost $10,000.

“For Andrews to fail to mention the impact of his 10,000 people protest on the spike in COVID-19 cases demonstrates his culpability,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Victorians believed Daniel Andrews when he promised them his harsh lockdown restrictions would ease on Monday. Now Daniel Andrews has broken that promise and he has betrayed Victorians.”

Mr O’Brien said the decision to reimpose restrictions would cost jobs.

“It will kill small businesses that will never recover. It will mean that more Victorians will face unemployment. It will ruin many families’ plans to safely gather at home,” he said.

“Regional Victoria, where there are hardly any COVID-19 cases, is being unfairly punished by Labor’s Melbourne-centric focus. There is again a strong case for an easing of restrictions in country Victoria that enables people to safely get back to work.

“Victoria has laboured under the harshest lockdown laws in the country, but they’ve failed to protect Victorians’ health.”

Following Labor’s branch-stacking scandal which has seen three ministers leave the Andrews cabinet this week, Mr O’Brien said the Premier had spent “more time this week focusing on his corrupt Labor Government than on COVID-19.”

“Daniel Andrews is a hypocrite and has now misled Victorians over his COVID restrictions,” he said.

“To blame Victorian families for his betrayal of them shows that Daniel Andrews is simply not fit to lead Victoria.”