Melbourne coronavirus lockdown: Peter Dutton hits back at Daniel Andrews’ leadership sledge
Peter Dutton has hit back at a sledge from Daniel Andrews, who said he wouldn’t “waste” his time asking for help from a failed leadership candidate.
World
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Peter Dutton has hit back at a nasty sledge from Daniel Andrews, who said he wouldn’t “waste” his time asking for help from the Home Affairs Minister and would go straight to the PM.
The verbal stoush kicked off on Thursday after Mr Dutton suggested the Victorian Premier was not accepting assistance offered by the Federal Government in dealing with the state’s rapidly worsening coronavirus crisis.
“If I need something from the Commonwealth, I don’t hesitate to ask and I tell you who I ask – I ask the Prime Minister. I don’t waste my time asking the bloke who he beat in a party-room ballot,” Mr Andrews said, referring to the August 2018 leadership spill.
Appearing on Nine’s Today on Friday morning, Mr Dutton denied it was a “smackdown”, as host Karl Stefanovic put it.
“Not at all – I think everybody around the country wants the best for Victoria,” Mr Dutton said.
“All of us who have family and friends in Victoria and people are doing it tough. People have businesses that have had to re-close. People have loved ones in aged care facilities. The numbers speak for themselves. The point I made yesterday is we want to provide whatever assistance we can to Victoria and I hope that they accept it.”
Stefanovic asked Mr Dutton whether his comments on Thursday were a “cheap shot”.
“No, Karl, it wasn’t,” he said.
“It was about making sure that we can work together. The health departments, the chief medical officers … work together every day, and it’s incredibly important, but where there’s an offer of assistance if mistakes have been made, if we can rectify those, that’s the only game in town.”
Mr Dutton said “if you look at the track record” of the Queensland Labor government or the NSW Liberal government, “the way that there’s a contrast between their handling, say, of hotel security compared to that of the Andrews government – all of that speaks for itself”.
“But the concentration now is on making sure that we can help them fix up those problems, and I don’t see why Premier Andrews would hesitate to accept that assistance,” he said.
“We have Defence personnel on the ground. That’s now been accepted. I think that’s a good thing because we can help Victoria get through this more quickly than otherwise would be the case.”
Stefanovic suggested that Mr Andrews’ comments “must’ve really cheesed you off yesterday”.
“No, look, he is a guy under pressure,” Mr Dutton said.
“I accept that, I just want to make sure that we can help him and help his government and ultimately the people of Victoria. I think that’s all that’s at play here, and I really genuinely want us to do whatever we can, and I don’t see why Victoria wouldn’t accept that offer of assistance.”
Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles conceded that Victoria was in a tough spot but said there had been co-operation with the Federal Government, notably with the ADF.
“So I’m not sure that now is the moment for a manufactured political fight,” Mr Marles said. “The truth of the matter is, it’s pretty terrifying for anyone who’s got family in aged care.”
"No, look, he's a guy under pressure and I accept that and I just want to make sure that we can help him and help his government and ultimately the people of Victoria." @PeterDutton_MP has responded to Dan Andrews' comments slamming him during a press conference. #9Today pic.twitter.com/1iCMFkdnnS
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) July 23, 2020
Stefanovic pointed out that “it’s not just a political fight”, noting comments by Australian Medical Association boss Dr Tony Bartone on Thursday suggesting Victoria needed to show more co-operation.
“Well, I don’t think that’s right,” Mr Marles said.
“I think there is a high degree of co-operation between the two tiers of government. Look, it is very scary here right now. I mean, for businesses that are unable to operate and people are unable to operate and people are beside themselves about how long that situation will continue, if you’ve got family in aged care or if you’re in aged care, if you work in aged care, it is utterly terrifying and really, now, is the moment to try and work together to get through this.”
He repeated that people don’t want “a manufactured political stoush”.
“I think we just want to get through this moment,” he said.
“I mean, we’re all holding our breath to see these numbers come down, but every day where there is a new figure with four in front of it is a scary day, and right now we’re just trying to get through this.”
Originally published as Melbourne coronavirus lockdown: Peter Dutton hits back at Daniel Andrews’ leadership sledge