Neil Mitchell, a radio host, accused Daniel Andrews of playing politics with public health when the premier refused to reinstate mask regulations despite an increase in Covid cases.
Mr Andrews, who presided over the world’s longest lockdown in Melbourne last year, is stepping away from tough pandemic measures as the state’s deaths and hospitalizations continue to increase.
His health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, also stated she rejected suggestions from the state’s interim chief health officer, Professor Ben Cowie, to enforce masks.
Mitchell has now criticised Mr Andrews in a blistering editorial for the Age for rejecting medical advice.
‘After being told for two years that all the ugly decisions like locking toddlers out of playgrounds –and sending people scurrying home by 8pm lest they be stopped by police after curfew – were simply following health advice, the government decided to reject it.
‘The politicians are making the decisions, not doctors. Under this government that means decisions with an eye on the ballot box, not necessarily the protection of the people.
‘There have long been rumours of divisions between the government and its health advisers. Now they are public.’
The radio host has been a consistent critic of Mr Andrews and his government during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The premier has not appeared on Mitchell’s program since 2017 after a tense interview between the pair, and his wife has blocked the radio host on Twitter.
In August 2020, when Victoria battled a second wave of coronavirus as it escaped from hotel quarantine, Mitchell wrote that ‘Daniel Andrews has made a bad error, appearing to play with the truth, and alienated those he needs’.
Mitchell also said Mr Andrews’ refusal to lift restrictions during one of Victoria’s 2020 lockdowns showed that he ‘didn’t get it’.
‘Managing a pandemic is largely about managing the public. That means explaining decisions properly, which Dan Andrews will not do,’ he wrote.
In August 2021, Mitchell issued a ‘personal plea’ to the Victorian premier.
‘Premier, we know you’ve basically committed to zero cases and we know we can’t get there, not at this price,’ the 3AW Mornings host said.
‘I think you do get it, but you committed to a path which isn’t realistic anymore.
‘What is happening here is dangerous, it is destructive, it’s devastating for kids, and families, and businesses.’
Mitchell also criticised Mr Andrews in 2019, saying he had a ‘bendable sense of morality’ in signing a controversial infrastructure deal with China.
The Victorian government is ‘strongly recommending’ people wear masks indoors and in crowded settings.
‘Mask wearing in indoor and crowded settings is strongly recommended to protect yourself and our most vulnerable Victorians through winter – but there will not be any changes to current face mask requirements with these new pandemic orders,’ it said on Tuesday.
Media personality Steve Price suggested a Victorian election, scheduled for November 2022, was behind the Labor government’s reluctant to reimpose a mask mandate.
‘Let’s be frank about what’s happening here,’ Price said on The Project on Monday evening.
‘The politicians are not listening to the health advice anymore because Victoria and New South Wales have got elections coming up.
‘And they don’t want to tell people that they have to get locked down or wear masks.’
Victoria recorded 10,627 new Covid cases and another 16 deaths on Tuesday, with hospitalisation rates continuing to rise.
There are 737 people in hospital with the virus, up 20 from Monday and almost 200 during the past week.
Ms Thomas emphasised personal choice while refusing to bring back a mask mandate.
‘Wearing a mask, getting up to date with your vaccinations and ensuring indoor areas are well ventilated are small but effective steps Victorians and businesses can take to manage their own Covid-19 risk this winter,’ the Health Minister said.
People who test positive for Covid will be free from testing and isolation for four weeks rather than twelve, according to regulations published on Tuesday.
The revisions, which take effect at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, are based on recommendations from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.
Employers are also being advised to consider allowing their staff to work from home, though no recommendations have been provided.
A statewide advertising campaign pushing Covid vaccination boosters will also begin, and additional funds will be made available to small enterprises looking to purchase ventilators.
Health officials throughout the country have warned of an impending surge in Covid cases as two virulent new BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron grip the country.