Dominic Perrottet praises ‘incredibly constructive’ Daniel Andrews relationship

Amid pressure on the Andrews government from Victorian Liberals over the state’s health crisis, the NSW Premier asserted that Victoria’s situation is ‘not unique’.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Dominic Perrottet has praised his “incredibly constructive” relationship with Daniel Andrews during a joint press conference less than three months out from the Victorian election.

Amid pressure on the Andrews government from Victorian Liberals over the state’s health crisis, the NSW Liberal Premier asserted that Victoria’s situation is “not unique”, revealing he had not spoken to opposition leader Matthew Guy before travelling to Melbourne.

Both premiers attended the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre on Tuesday morning to announce a “historic partnership” across both states to expand urgent care services to 50 locations.

When asked if he had engaged with the Victorian opposition leader in similar discussions, ahead of the state’s November election, Mr Perrottet said he had not.

“But I’m here with Dan today to not talk about politics, but to talk about people, to talk about reform of health in this great country,” said Mr Perrottet, who is himself due to face an election next year.

“I’m not sitting here at a Labor Party fundraiser, I’m sitting here with a premier who wants to get things done and look after his people.

“We’ve built up that relationship, we’ve been working very closely together and that’s important.”

Asked whether he agreed with statements made by the Victorian opposition that pressures on Victoria’s health system were unique to the state, Mr Perrottet said: “They are not unique to Victoria.”

“Every state health system around the country and around the world is under pressure and that is only natural, particularly in circumstances where we’ve come through a one in 100 year pandemic,” he said.

“The issues we face in New South Wales are not unique to the issues we face in Victoria — they’re all similar, our health systems are under pressure, and we need to work together for a better way.”

Mr Andrews also praised the “historic partnership” between the country’s two most populous states, indicating that he had engaged in discussions with his New South Wales counterpart “many times” prior to Tuesday’s announcement.

“When it comes to patient care politics doesn’t matter,” Mr Andrews said.

“At the end of the day you get more done when you work together, but I couldn‘t be prouder for instance that we were able to make … some incredibly important reforms … [and] it was stronger because it was the two biggest states.

“It’s not about the team you barrack for, it’s about the people you serve.”

Mr Guy said it had taken “a Liberal premier to tell Daniel Andrews how to fix the health system in Victoria.”

“In 90 days we might have a Liberal premier of our own and we can get on with fixing it down here,” he said.

Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said challenges to the system were “not unique, but what’s happening here in Victoria is way, way worse than anywhere else”.