Coronavirus: Josh Frydenberg’s plea that Victorian children are hurting

Josh Frydenberg has escalated a stoush with Daniel Andrews over the Premier’s delayed easing of restrictions.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Picture: Gary Ramage

Josh Frydenberg has escalated a stoush with Daniel Andrews over the Premier’s delayed easing of restrictions, referencing a text message he received from a Victorian friend that included stories about children self-harming and a suicide.

The Treasurer told the ­Coalition partyroom the message included details of how the children of some of their friends had begun hurting themselves. ­Another acquaintance had committed suicide.

“The mental health statistics for Victoria are damning, yet businesses still can’t open,” Mr Frydenberg told the meeting.

State Liberal MP Tim Smith also weighed in on the row between Mr Frydenberg and Mr Andrews, accusing the Labor Premier of having “utter contempt” for the people of Victoria.

It comes after Mr Frydenberg on Monday said Mr Andrews had shown a “callous indifference” ­towards economic hardship in the state after restrictions on many businesses were extended for two weeks.

“This bloke Andrews, for him to accuse Josh (Frydenberg) of being political … I almost fell off my chair. Daniel Andrews has got utter contempt for the people of Victoria in the way that he’s locked us up in the world’s longest lockdown because of his own ­incompetence,” Mr Smith told Sky News.

“He still has not accepted ­responsibility for the death of ­almost 800 people, the world’s longest lockdown, a mental health crisis and hundreds of thousands of jobs destroyed … yet he’s accused Josh of being political. This bloke is completely out of touch.”

Mr Andrews on Tuesday dampened hopes that low coronavirus-case numbers could see hospitality venues open in time for the AFL grand final day on Saturday. He said he would not announce a further easing of restrictions before Sunday and urged people to stick to the rules.

Federal Employment Minister Michaelia Cash took aim at Mr Andrews for not moving more swiftly to reopen the economy, arguing that 1000 jobs were being lost every day.

“When you have the state of Victoria making up 40 per cent of the effective unemployment rate, when you have literally across the border a different state in similar circumstances, but living in a COVID-safe economy that is predominantly open and has faith in its contact tracing system, you really do need to start asking what is Distraction Dan doing?” Senator Cash said.

“He’s very good at throwing distractions. He’s not very good, though, at answering questions about why he continues to keep Victorians in this lockdown.”

Business leaders, including Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox and Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott, on Monday warned continuing restrictions were confining Victoria to protracted economic hardship.

Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn, retailer Gerry Harvey and Snowy Hydro boss Paul Broad also pushed for ­industry to be reopened.