Brett Sutton: Polarising figure amid pandemic

Brett Sutton, who enabled Daniel Andrews to cite ‘health advice’ in imposing one of the world’s longest lockdowns, has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Former Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton has received an AM in the Australia Day honours. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The man who enabled Daniel Andrews to cite “health advice” in imposing curfews, playground bans and one of the world’s longest lockdowns has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia “for distinguished service to the people of Victoria through public health administration and governance, and to medicine”.

During his time as Victoria’s chief health officer, Brett Sutton cut a polarising figure, drawing the ire of those who blamed him for the state government’s approach to Covid, which culminated in six lockdowns of 262 days, but also inspiring a line of merchandise that included doona covers, aprons and T-shirts purchased by admirers who saw him as a steady voice in a time of crisis.

When he resigned last June after four years as Victoria’s chief health bureaucrat to take up the role of CSIRO director of health and biosecurity in September, Dr Sutton said there had been times when the pressure of the job had “nearly crushed” him.

“I accept that in a crisis that (pressure) has to sit on your shoulders, there’s no escaping that, and I was in the midst of that beast for a long time,” he said.

“On the one hand, it’s helped me grow personally and professionally; on the other hand, it nearly crushed me, and it certainly weighed upon my family life. I don’t want them to have to carry that in the same way ever again.”

Dr Sutton was made Victorian of the Year weeks later, acknowledging at the time that many people would dispute him getting the award and saying he was “profoundly sorry” for some decisions.

“I’m symbolic of all those difficult things we had to steer through as Victorians, and the tough times brought us together … I obviously was a captain of the ship during stormy weather,” he said last June. “I understand that through those tough decisions there are always people who are going to be in much more difficult circumstances.

“I’m profoundly sorry for what people have gone through because of those decisions. I’m not sure I could have made much different (decisions) through all of those difficult choices.”

Dr Sutton began working at Victoria’s health department in 2011. Prior to entering the bureaucracy, he spent two years as a senior emergency doctor at The Alfred, Sandringham and Sunshine hospitals.

After studying medicine at the University of Melbourne, Dr Sutton worked with Medecins Sans Frontieres in Afghanistan, and did humanitarian work in Ethiopia, Kenya and East Timor.