VICTORIA\u2019S health minister has quit her portfolio as the fallout from the state\u2019s COVID-19 hotel quarantine scheme continues.<\/p>\n
Jenny Mikakos on Saturday issued a statement confirming her move, just a day after Premier Daniel Andrews gave evidence to an inquiry and pointed partial blame at the minister for her role in the bungled scheme, which led to the state\u2019s deadly second wave of infections.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have never wanted to leave a job unfinished but in light of the premier\u2019s statement to the board of inquiry and the fact that there are elements in it that I strongly disagree with, I believe that I cannot continue to serve in his cabinet,\u201d she wrote in a one-page statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am disappointed that my integrity has sought to be undermined.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said when the case numbers in Melbourne started to rise again in June, she sought an explanation and on 30 June received a briefing on a genomic sequencing report.<\/p>\n
The report confirmed the link between the hotel quarantine program and Victoria\u2019s second wave.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo say that I was shocked would be a massive understatement,\u201d Ms Mikakos said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I said to the board of inquiry, I take responsibility for my department, the buck stops with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Ms Mikakos said that with the benefit of hindsight there were matters her department should have briefed her on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have never shirked my responsibility for my department but it is not my responsibility alone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am deeply sorry for the situation Victorians find themselves in. In good conscience, I do not believe that my actions led to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victoria\u2019s second wave has resulted in more than 780 deaths and prompted weeks of strict lockdown measures for Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Ms Mikakos\u2019 comments follow her appearance at the hotel quarantine inquiry on Thursday, where she said she was \u201cvery disappointed\u201d problems identified with the program early on were not raised with her.<\/p>\n
Ms Mikakos said she did not know Public Health Commander Finn Romanes had written to Department of Health and Human Services secretary Kym Peake on April 9, warning of a \u201crisk to the health and safety of detainees\u201d due to governance issues.<\/p>\n
The letter was backed by chief health officer Brett Sutton and his deputy Annaliese van Diemen.<\/p>\n
Ms Peake also failed to brief Ms Mikakos on two Safer Care Victoria reports, which identified problems with the hotel quarantine program.<\/p>\n
Ms Mikakos also intends to resign from parliament.<\/p>\n
Deputy opposition leader Georgie Crozier said Ms Mikakos\u2019 exit was overdue and the premier also ought to resign.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can\u2019t think by Mikakos going all is fine,\u201d she tweeted.<\/p>\n
Influential crossbench MP Fiona Patten released a statement saying she had known Ms Mikakos for 20 years and had been grateful for being given a fair hearing despite their differences.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been an extraordinary time for us all but especially so if you are the health minister,\u201d Ms Patten said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJenny has carried herself remarkably well during these difficult times.\u201d<\/p>\n
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he was sorry to see Ms Mikakos resign and she had worked \u201ctirelessly\u201d through the pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cPremier Andrews\u2019 assertion that the Health Minister was responsible for the Quarantine system lacks logic,\u201d he tweeted.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow could a health minister direct police to be involved?\u201d<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday he would not get involved in recriminations following the hotel quarantine inquiry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it helps, my commentary on those matters,\u201d he said<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
VICTORIA\u2019S health minister has quit her portfolio as the fallout from the state\u2019s COVID-19 hotel quarantine scheme continues. Jenny Mikakos on Saturday issued a statement confirming her move, just a day after Premier Daniel Andrews gave evidence to an inquiry and pointed partial blame at the minister for her role in the bungled scheme, which […]<\/p>\n