Mikakos says she is disappointed that her « integrity has sought to be undermined » and says that she will also leave parliament
Victoria’s Health Minister resigned from her portfolio and announced she would leave Parliament a day after State Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said she was partly responsible for the program Covid-19 hotel quarantine failed
In a scathing statement on Saturday, Jenny Mikakos said she « strongly disagreed [d] » with Andrews’ comments during an investigation into the hotel’s quarantine program State, but felt she had no choice but to resign
« I never wanted to leave a job unfinished, but in light of the Prime Minister’s statement to the Commission of Inquiry and the fact that it contains elements with which I strongly disagree, I believe that I cannot continue to serve in his cabinet, ”she wrote in a one-page statement
The minister’s resignation is the Victorian government’s first big skull in the wake of the state’s second wave Covid-19 outbreak, and comes just a day after Andrews blamed the minister for his role in the failed stratagem
Appearing before the inquest on Friday, Andrews questioned Mikakos’ previous evidence that she only learned of the existence of private security in May Instead, the prime minister said he « considers her responsible » for the program from April
« The CCC (Crisis Council of Cabinet) has received regular reports from Minister Mikakos containing data relevant to Victoria’s response to the public health emergency, » he said
But in her statement, Mikakos said she was « eager » to learn who was in charge of the program for months and was « shocked » after receiving a genomic sequencing report in June that confirmed the link between the hotel quarantine program and the second wave of Victoria
« As I said to the commission of inquiry, I take responsibility for my department, the responsibility ends with me »
However, Mikakos admitted that in hindsight there were issues his department should have informed him of
« I have never shirked my responsibility for my department, but it is not my only responsibility, » she said
« I am deeply sorry for the situation the Victorians find themselves in. In good conscience, I do not believe that my actions led to it »
A number of Victorian-era Labor MPs have expressed support for Mikakos following his resignation, including Nick Staikos, MP for Bentleigh and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, who said he was saddened that the career of the minister « ended this way »
« He is a person of integrity who worked hard while carrying the extraordinary weight of an unprecedented health crisis on his shoulders. I only wish him the best post-politics, ”he wrote
« For 21 years in parliament, but long before, Jenny has been a tremendous servant to our community, » he wrote on Twitter
« Few people have worked so hard or have more passion for helping others I have never seen a hint of personal ambition, just an ambition to do good Proud to call you a friend, Jenny »
Following the release of her statement on Saturday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard released a statement on Twitter saying he was « sorry » to see her step down, saying that she had « worked tirelessly in this pandemic »
« Premier Andrews’ assertion that the Minister of Health was responsible for the quarantine system lacks logic, » he said
« We hope to work with a new Minister of Health to stop bizarre decisions to outsource public hospital cleaners and other non-clinical workers during a pandemic and replace them with outsourcing companies questionable, « the union said
Victoria’s second wave killed more than 780 and caused weeks of strict lockdowns in Melbourne
Mikakos’ comments follow her appearance during the hotel’s quarantine investigation on Thursday, where she said she was « very disappointed » that the issues identified with the program at the start were not brought to her attention. reported
Mikakos said she was unaware that Public Health Commander Finn Romanes wrote on April 9 to Department of Health and Human Services secretary Kym Peake to warn of a « risk for the health and safety of prisoners ”due to governance issues
The letter was supported by Director of Health Brett Sutton and his deputy Annaliese van Diemen
Peake also failed to inform Mikakos of two Safer Care Victoria reports, which identified issues with the hotel’s quarantine program
Mikakos
World News – UA – Jenny Mikakos resigns as Victoria Minister of Health after Covid hotel quarantine investigation
