Once again, it seems that Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is either telling porkies or is just the world’s second-most clueless leader.
Andrews has, it must be remembered, repeatedly denied any knowledge of when or by whom it was decided to use private security guards for the state’s botched hotel quarantine. This is despite phone records and witness testimony to the Coates inquiry have established that the decision was made by the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet during a meeting on Friday, March 27.
When Victoria’s COVID cases exploded – entirely due to the hotel quarantine scheme – Andrews tried to shift blame onto Melbournians. “Selfish” Melbournians, he claimed, had defied government advice and continued to work while awaiting test results. Except – that was exactly what his own health department’s advice told them to do.
When it emerged that New Zealanders had entered Victoria under the “trans-Tasman travel bubble” arrangement, Andrews put on the same show of denial and blame-shifting.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews attacked the federal government at the weekend after New Zealanders entered his state via NSW – but it’s now emerged Victoria’s official website specifically permits it.
On Friday, the one-way ‘travel bubble’ between the two countries launched, allowing Kiwis to fly to NSW, the NT and ACT without quarantine. However, there has been confusion as to whether those arriving are then permitted to take domestic flights onwards to states not part of the agreement.
“We were asked, ‘Do you want to be in the bubble?’ and we said no,” said Premier Andrews on Sunday after it was reported 55 New Zealanders entered the state. “This is gold standard, apparently, according to the federal government. I’ve got no power to stop them coming in.”
Yet, once again it appears that Andrews’ own health department is directly contradicting him.
However, the official advice from Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services, still live on Monday morning, reads, “A trans-Tasman travel bubble is currently in place between New Zealand and parts of Australia. This allows travellers from New Zealand to arrive in New South Wales and the Northern Territory without having to quarantine for 14 days on arrival.”
“Currently the Victorian borders are open. If you are travelling from New Zealand and have passed all relevant immigration and biosecurity requirements as established by the Federal Government, New South Wales Government and Northern Territory Government, then you are able to travel to Victoria. You do not need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Victoria.”
As usual, “Dan’s Army” of keyboard warriors are furiously defending their Dear Leader, claiming that the advice was updated after the fact. This is apparently contradicted by evidence that Victoria’s health department knew of the arrivals well beforehand and that Andrews was informed and his department had approved the entries.
But, hey, who are we to doubt the word of “Dictator Dan”?
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