Daniel Andrews baulks at releasing Covid-19 lockdown advice
The Andrews government is refusing to say whether it will comply with orders to release documents detailing the basis for the state’s lockdown in February.
The Andrews government is refusing to say whether it will comply with orders from Victoria’s privacy watchdog to release documents detailing the basis for the state’s lockdown in February.
The Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner on Tuesday ordered the government to release 176 Health Department documents detailing the advice that guided the government’s decision to enforce a stage four lockdown on February 1.
At the time, chief health officer Brett Sutton and Premier Daniel Andrews said the five-day “circuit-breaker” lockdown was necessary to control the “hyper-infectious” UK variant of Covid, which had escaped into the community as a result of infection control breaches at the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn quarantine hotel.
In its attempt to block the release of the material, the Department of Health said the files revealed “high-level deliberative processes of government” and risked jeopardising trust between public officials and a minister.
OVIC ruled that the public had a right to the information, with deputy commissioner Joanne Kummrow finding: “I consider members of the public are capable of understanding the role of the chief health officer to make decisions and issue directions under the public health and wellbeing act.”
Ms Kummrow also said the documents “contained a substantial amount of publicly available information”.
The Andrews government has so far refused to release documents detailing the justifications for all six of Victoria’s lockdowns — which have seen Melburnians subjected to 262 days of stay-at-home orders.
This means the forced release of the documents for the February lockdown could set a precedent for the others.
Asked on Wednesday whether the government would follow OVIC’s orders to release the documents, senior minister Danny Pearson said the matter was under active consideration but refused to say whether the government would comply.
“These documents are not my documents,” Mr Pearson said
“As I understand it, the Department of Health will consider this.”
Victorian opposition upper house leader David Davis, who has been fighting for the release of documents underpinning all six lockdowns, said Victorians had a right to know why they had been forced to stay home.
“If your business has been slammed shut, you’re entitled to know why,” Mr Davis said.
“If you can’t see your loved ones in hospital, you’re entitled to see the advice on which those decisions have been made.”
Mr Davis said the refusal to release the advice would call into questions the government’s credibility.
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