Coronavirus Australia: Jenny Mikakos faces calls to resign

Victoria’s ‘smug’ health minister defies medical advice to attend parliament but refuses to answer ANY questions about her handling of state’s virus disaster or hotel quarantine fiasco

  • Victoria’s Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has faced calls to resign over COVID-19
  • The MP was called a disgrace after refusing to answer questions in parliament 
  • Ms Mikakos was among 10 MPs who ignored health advice to attend the sitting
  • Despite her presence she dismissed six questions put forward by the opposition
  • Her behaviour was described as ‘smug and arrogant’ by the Opposition leader

Victoria’s Health Minister has repeatedly refused to answer questions about her handling of the COVID-19 crisis during a brief sitting of parliament, which she attended against medical advice.  

Jenny Mikakos wore a face mask as she walked into the Legislative Council in Melbourne for the first sitting of Victoria’s upper house since June 18. 

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton had recommended parliament not sit in line with the stage four coronavirus restrictions in place across metropolitan Melbourne, and the lower house complied. 

The MP endured jeers from the opposition who called her a ‘disgrace’ when she failed to respond to a series of questions about the bungled hotel quarantine program.  

Jenny Mikakos wore a face mask as she walked into the Legislative Council in Melbourne for the first sitting of parliament since June 18

The onslaught began after a question from Opposition Health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier. 

‘On what date in March or April were you advised that there were serious issues with the hotel security program?’ Ms Crozier asked. 

Ms Mikakos launched into a speech about her concerns over parliament’s decision to sit against the advice of the Chief Health Officer.

She told parliament she wanted it on the record her presence ‘should not be interpreted’ as ‘ignoring’ his advice before suggesting proceeds move ‘as fast as possible’.

‘I will take the member’s question on notice. I will provide her with a written answer in accordance with the standing orders, and I give a commitment to do so in the usual time frame, which will be by tomorrow, even though the house will not be sitting tomorrow,’ Ms Mikakos said. 

She was among 10 MPs who ignored advice from the state's chief Health Officer Brett Sutton to delay the sitting due to the COVID-19 risk

She was among 10 MPs who ignored advice from the state’s chief Health Officer Brett Sutton to delay the sitting due to the COVID-19 risk

The answer was met with shouts from the room, including one MP urging her to resign.

As questions about the state’s handling of the crisis continued, she reiterated she would only provide written answers the following day.

Ms Mikakos was criticised by the Opposition House leader David Davis. 

‘It was just extraordinary and it looked smug and arrogant,’ he told the Herald Sun.

‘People are entitled to answers and all she had to do was stand there and answer truthfully.’  

Reason Party Leader Fiona Patten said Ms Mikakos had showed ‘complete disdain for the Victorian public’.

The health minister endured jeers from the opposition who called her a 'disgrace' for failing to respond to a series of questions about the bungled hotel quarantine scandal

The health minister endured jeers from the opposition who called her a ‘disgrace’ for failing to respond to a series of questions about the bungled hotel quarantine scandal

The Health Minister later shared the Chief Health Officer’s advice urging the delay to Parliament due to health concerns.   

‘We shouldn’t be at parliament today. We should all be staying safe,’ she wrote. 

‘The advice was to delay this sitting. It’s a dangerous trend for leaders to ignore medical advice. We should set the example. The longer we’re here, the greater the risk to all who work at.’     

Following Question time the Health Minister shared the Chief Health Officer's advice urging the delay to Parliament due to health concerns

Following Question time the Health Minister shared the Chief Health Officer’s advice urging the delay to Parliament due to health concerns

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien condemned the health minister and said parliament was an essential service.

‘If Dan Murphy’s is an essential service I think democracy is pretty central as well,’ he told reporters.

‘When you’ve got Victorians in stage four lockdown, our rights restricted like never before, I think it’s okay for the government to answer questions.’  

The onslaught began after a question from Opposition Health Spokeswoman Georgie Crozier

The onslaught began after a question from Opposition Health Spokeswoman Georgie Crozier

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