Federal Government to ‘interrogate’ Victorian road map

Scott Morrison has poked holes in Victorian Premier Dan Andrews’ path out of lockdown, with the PM suggesting the thresholds set are unrealistic.

Scott Morrison says he is waiting to see what the Victorian Government will be doing to mitigate the economic impact of the decisions in its road map. Picture: David Gray/Getty Images

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has shot holes in the credibility of Victoria’s road map out of strict coronavirus lockdowns.

Speaking in Canberra on Monday, Mr Morrison said tracing capability was the difference between being “open and closed”, not less than five mystery cases a day.

“What I can’t help but be struck by is that, under the thresholds that have been set in that plan, Sydney would be under curfew now,” Mr Morrison said.

“Sydney doesn’t need to be under curfew now. They have a tracing capability that can deal with outbreaks.”

Mr Morrison said all states had to reach NSW’s “gold standard” of contact tracing to ensure the nation could open.

“It’s important that we work on building that tracing capability in Victoria to get it at a level that enables it to move in a more confident way than I think the plan that was announced yesterday set out,” he said.

The Federal Government has revealed it will “interrogate” Daniel Andrews’ plan, and seek feedback from businesses and industry.

“I‘m sure the Victorian Government would welcome that interrogation,” Mr Morrison said, adding he did not have the authority to step in and tell the government to follow another plan.

The Prime Minister put the pressure on the embattled state to unveil its economic support plan to mitigate the economic consequences of the road map that it has outlined.

“We first want to see what the Victorian Government will be doing to address that,” he said.

“Then we’ll consider – the Treasurer and I, and the senior ministers of the Expenditure Review Committee – what further measures may be required.”