Coronavirus: Greg Hunt dodges Daniel Andrews request

Health Minister Greg Hunt has sidestepped a plea from the Victorian Premier for $250m to fund an Australian Institute for Infectious Disease in Melbourne.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt MP visits University of Queensland’s National Biologics Facility in Brisbane’s St Lucia.. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Health Minister Greg Hunt has sidestepped a plea from the Victorian Premier for $250m to fund an Australian Institute for Infectious Disease in Melbourne, saying the federal government has already committed $220m to another disease research project in Victoria.

Daniel Andrews announced plans for the institute on Friday morning, committing $155m from the state government to the new $550m facility in Parkville’s biomedical precinct.

A further $150m will be provided by the University of Melbourne and its partners and Mr Andrews said he would present a case to the federal government to try to secure a further $250m in funding. “We want the federal government to join us — that’s entirely a choice for them but we’ll provide any and all information,” he said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced $155m from the state government to the new $550m facility in Parkville’s biomedical precinct. Picture: Getty Images

When asked about the request for funding, Mr Hunt said he received a message “late [Thursday] night” from the Victorian government.

He said there were “differing approaches” to responding to infectious diseases and the federal government had already committed $220m to the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, based in Geelong.

Mr Andrews said the facility would be a “national centre” and it was “exactly the right thing to do at this time” with COVID-19 showing the importance of backing scientists and researchers.

“This has been a one-in-100-year event but novel viruses and global pandemics is one part of infectious diseases. Who knows, there may be more pandemics of that nature in years to come,” he said. “This is some of the most important work and, arguably, it has never been more important than it is right now. There are many other infectious diseases that cost lives, suffering and hardship.”

The institute would bring together experts from the University of Melbourne, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and biotech leader CSL and become the new home of the Burnet Institute.

Mr Andrews said the institute would directly employ up to 850 people and support up to 5000 jobs. Construction would begin in 2022 and aim to finish by 2025.

Victoria recorded no new cases of coronavirus and no deaths on Friday, setting a rolling case average of zero cases.

Mr Andrews refused to outline any further relaxing of measures but said the target wasn’t for zero cases everyday. “The aim is to have as low numbers as possible and to be able to stop the spread of this virus.”

From this weekend, Melburnians will be allowed to travel into the regions, with Mr Andrews urging people to enjoy regional Victoria in a “safe way”.