Daniel Andrews makes subtle dig at NSW when announcing Victoria’s snap lockdown

Daniel Andrews took a subtle dig at NSW while announcing the state’s snap lockdown, pointing out one key measure.

The Victorian Premier has taken a subtle dig at the NSW government, declaring retail stores would not be open during the state’s snap lockdown.

“Just for clarity, retail is shut,” Daniel Andrews said, while detailing lockdown measures.

“It’s not open. There will be no browsing, it’s click and collect. That’s what it has to be. That’s what is safe. That’s what has worked before in Melbourne and it is what will work again.”

But when asked whether NSW should have taken learnings from Victoria’s lockdown last year, Mr Andrews said he wasn’t there to “scoff or sneer” at anyone.

“That doesn’t work against this virus. . This virus doesn’t care if you’ve got a big ego or not,” he said.

Daniel Andrews said retail will be closed. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Matray

“Just get on and get the job done. I can’t control what happens and doesn’t happen in NSW. These cases started in NSW, but I’m determined they will end here. “

Victoria’s snap five-day lockdown will kick in from midnight after the state recorded more than a dozen new cases in 48 hours, all linked to NSW’s delta outbreak.

There are now 18 cases in Victoria with 75 exposure sites, 1500 primary close contacts and 5000 secondary close contacts.

The outbreak started after a team of NSW removalists helped a family from Sydney to Melbourne while unknowingly infectious.

The Victorian government has taken a different approach to NSW, issuing a snap lockdown for the entire state rather than restrictions.

“You only get one chance to go hard and go fast. If you wait, if you hesitate, if you doubt, then you always will be looking back wishing you had done more earlier,” Mr Andrews said.

“I am not prepared to avoid a five day lockdown now only to find ourselves in a five week or a five month lockdown.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian fears numbers will rise again. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

“That is why we are making this very difficult decision and it is why I know Victoria, despite the pain and the difficulty of this, know and understand there is no option.”

This is Victoria’s fifth lockdown since the pandemic began.

NSW recorded 65 new cases on Thursday, with 28 of those infectious in the community and there are fears case numbers will rise again on Friday.

This will likely be due the number of people in the community while infectious and to a testing blitz in the Fairfield local government area where case numbers continue to surge.

Of the 65 cases announced on Thursday, 46 are from Sydney’s southwest and eight are from the city’s southeast. Another six are from western Sydney.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has long been criticised for not locking Sydney down properly with retail stores still open.

She was probed on Thursday about why retail stores were still open.

“We always base our decisions on the best health advice and on the best information available,” she said.

Originally published as Daniel Andrews makes subtle dig at NSW when announcing Victoria’s snap lockdown