Victoria's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos refused to answer questions on the state’s coronavirus response in Parliament on Tuesday, sparking accusations from opposition MPs of contempt for the Victorian community.
In extraordinary scenes during a raucous question time, Ms Mikakos deflected six questions about Victoria’s botched hotel quarantine program and the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic by repeating that she would provide a written answer by Wednesday.
Tuesday’s fireworks began when opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier asked Ms Mikakos on what date in March or April she was advised of serious issues in Victoria’s hotel quarantine program.
Liberal MP David Davis, the leader of the upper house, told the skeleton group of mask-wearing MPs in attendance on Tuesday that it was important the Andrews government faced scrutiny as it exercised “extraordinary powers” during the pandemic.
Minutes later, when Ms Mikakos stood for a fourth time to announce she would prepare a written answer on what evidence the government had used to impose Victoria’s coronavirus restrictions, Mr Davis responded incredulously.
“That is an appalling response by the Minister,” Mr Davis said.
Ms Mikakos, who spent the first 20 minutes of Tuesday’s sitting looking at her mobile phone, insisted no MPs should be in Parliament after the Labour-majority lower house heeded Professor Sutton’s advice and cancelled its proceedings on Tuesday.
(The Age)
