Coronavirus: NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet rejected Sydney lockdown extension
Dominic Perrottet vehemently opposed the move signed off at the state’s crisis cabinet meeting, saying it was time the state adjusted its thinking to Covid-19.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet vehemently opposed the lockdown extension signed off at the state’s crisis cabinet meeting on Tuesday, saying it was time the state adjusted its thinking to Covid-19 and learned to live with infections in the community.
The Australian has learned that Mr Perrottet rejected the proposal, arguing that it would cause immense harm to businesses across Greater Sydney due to the lack of financial assistance they would receive, namely JobKeeper.
The crisis cabinet is chaired by Premier Gladys Berejiklian and attended by senior cabinet ministers, including Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres and Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello.
Mr Barilaro is understood to have submitted a three-stage proposal to extricate NSW from further lockdowns, which was approved by the majority of ministers present. Stage one of the proposal was to extend the current lockdown, with an easing of restrictions for some sectors and industries to follow. He declined to comment when contacted.
Mr Perrottet is understood to have been the only minister to dissent from the proposal to extend the lockdown by seven days and he too declined to comment on the discussions when contacted.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Health Minister Brad Hazzard echoed the sentiments of Mr Perrottet by indicating that the state may need to adjust its footing against the virus if the current lockdown settings did not eradicate the pathogen from the community.
He singled out communities in southwestern Sydney for elements of noncompliance which, he and others claimed, were stifling the lockdown effort and potentially jeopardising the state.
“I think at some stage, if the individuals don’t hear (NSW chief health officer) Dr (Kerry) Chant’s message and don’t respond, then at some point we’re going to move to a stage where we are going to have to accept that the virus has a life which will continue in the community,” Mr Hazzard said.
“But we’re trying damned hard at the moment to make sure that we can use every effort to suppress that virus – and right now is a critical time … particularly for the community in southwestern Sydney. Your individual actions may well determine the future of this virus in our community.”
Some Liberal MPs have written to Ms Berejiklian urging her to rethink the current lockdown settings given their regions have seen no occurrence of the virus during this outbreak. Among them are Manly MP James Griffin and Kiama MP Gareth Ward.
Mr Ward, taking a critical view of the lockdown extension, said there had been no cases of community transmission in either Shellharbour or Wollongong Local Government Areas.
“When decisions about Public Health Orders are made, not only should the reasons be explained but evidence should also be provided,” he said. “Decisions without reasons are completely and totally unacceptable.
“It makes no sense to limit individual liberty, damage business and cause hardship for families when there is no overriding and greater public health reason for doing so.”
Mr Griffin wrote to Ms Berejiklian on Tuesday conveying a similar sentiment for the Northern Beaches community, which has also seen no cases of Covid-19 since the start of the most recent outbreak.
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