Dan Andrews AGAIN demands a 'ring of steel' around Sydney and vows to lock all of NSW out of his state until it follows his 'respectful suggestions' for a suffocating ultra-hard lockdown
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has again demanded a 'ring of steel' around Sydney, while vowing to ban NSW residents from his state.
Mr Andrews on Tuesday announced Victoria would be ending its lockdown at 11:59pm wit just 10 Covid cases, as Sydney's jumped by 172.
The premier strengthened the hard border with NSW and declared it would stay that way until Sydney's outbreak was over, or it was locked down to his satisfaction.
He boasted he didn't think there was a 'jurisdiction in the world' that fought off two outbreaks of the Delta strain and offered NSW some frank advice.
'My views on border arrangements are well-known, I made the case and made the comments at national cabinet on Friday,' he said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has again demanded a 'ring of steel' around Sydney, while vowing to do everything he can to keep NSW out of his state
'I can't control what happens there, all I can do is wish NSW well.'
The premier said in time there would be a possibility of Victoria providing some support to Sydney to lighten the load on contact tracers.
Mr Andrews also said the local councils of Wagga Wagga, Hay, Lockhart and Murrumbidgee will not be included in Victoria's travel bubble for at least two weeks.
'I take no pleasure in having to essentially lock out those four communities from Victoria, but there's a refusal to lock people in Sydney into Sydney, so I have no choice but to make these changes,' Mr Andrews said.
The mood quickly became tense when a reporter asked why the premier hadn't personally notified NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian of his decision.
'I've had a busy morning, so has she. My views on these matters are well known. I've been too busy to pick up the phone today,' a cranky Mr Andrews replied.
The terse premier said he wasn't there to apologise for not reaching out to Ms Berejiklian and said 'frankly it wasn't my top priority'.
Mr Andrews on Tuesday announced Victoria would be ending the lockdown period at 11:59pm that evening, as Sydney's Covid-19 cases hit a record high of 172
Daniel Andrews has proudly boasted he didn't think there was a 'jurisdiction in the world' that had fought off two Delta outbreaks and offered NSW some frank advice
When asked if there was any positive reception to the idea of a 'ring of steel' around Sydney at national cabinet, Mr Andrews shrugged and replied 'clearly not'.
'Well, not from the person that actually matters,' he said, in reference to Ms Berejiklian.
The Victorian leader said that while there were discussions of city-wide restrictions across Sydney and his infamous 'ring of steel', he was simply giving advice on what worked in his state.
'It's through painful, tragic and bitter experience that we are able to advise others of what has actually worked,' Mr Andrews lamented.
'Victorians can speak with authority and tragedy and that's why we're making these respectful recommendations to others.
'It worked here and there's every chance it could work there. They've got a different view and that's fine.
'They'll be locked out of our state for as long as they have that view or they get their cases down - whichever is sooner.'
Mr Andrews said there was clearly no positive reception to his suggestion of a 'ring of steel' around Sydney at national cabinet on Friday, in reference to the NSW Premier
The Victorian premier said his state's permit system and border bubble with NSW had been tightened today, after the virus was detected 120km from Sydney's CBD
He was quick to point out he wasn't the only premier with advice for NSW, citing Mark McGowan in WA also demanding the state enforce similar restrictions.
Mr Andrews reassured Victorians he would continue to make tough calls despite how they might 'offend' other Australian states.
The premier said his state's permit system and border bubble with NSW was tightened today, after the virus was detected 120km from Sydney's CBD.
Mr Andrews again used the example of his state's strict 'ring of steel' protecting not only regional Victoria but the whole country in July of last year.
'It is from a place of wisdom that comes from that tragedy that we have called for those things,' he said, insisting he wasn't being triumphant nor boastful.
'A ring of steel will work. It will. And that's why I've called for it. The NSW Government have a different view.
'I would respectfully say to the NSW Government you're not just making decisions for NSW. You're making decisions for the whole country.'
When asked if vaccinations rather than a ring of steel would be more efficient in ending the outbreak, Mr Andrews again referred to his request for modelling.
The Victorian premier continues to ask the NSW government to pitch a potential strategy for vaccinating Sydney's Covid-ravaged west in return for a donation of vaccine doses
The premier continues to ask the NSW Government to pitch a strategy for vaccinating Sydney's Covid-ravaged west in return for vaccine doses.
On Monday, Mr Andrews said he would be happy to discuss sharing any or all resources with Sydney, but wanted evidence a vaccine donation would make a 'material difference'.
'We simply don't have vaccine supplies to be able to vaccinate our way out of this. Sorry, not for many months anyway,' he added on Tuesday.
He said he had supported Prime Minister Scott Morrison's decision to reject the request for all GP appointments across Sydney to be cancelled to divert more Pfizer doses to mass vaccination hubs.
When asked what evidence he had to prove the effectiveness of his controversial 'ring of steel', Mr Andrews said a decrease in cases from thousands to hundreds.
'Anyway I'm not here to talk about Sydney,' the premier said, adding that Victorians should feel grateful for the ending of the state-wide lockdown.
This was after well over 10 minutes of talking about Sydney non-stop.
It comes as Sydney recorded 172 new local Covid-19 cases and two deaths on Tuesday, with 60 of the cases out in the community while infectious
In an alarming sign Sydney's outbreak has spread to regional NSW, five of the cases were recorded on the Central Coast - more than 120km away from the Harbour City
Sydney recorded 172 new local Covid-19 cases and two deaths on Tuesday, with 60 of the cases out in the community while infectious.
In an alarming sign Sydney's outbreak has spread to regional NSW, five of the cases were recorded on the Central Coast - more than 120km away from the Harbour City.
NSW Health also confirmed the deaths of two residents from Covid-19 - both of which were announced on Monday. Neither were vaccinated against the virus.
The deaths bring the number of Covid-related fatalities during Sydney's Delta outbreak to 10.
Meanwhile Victoria recorded another 10 local cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday morning, all of which were in isolation during their infectious period.
VICTORIA'S NEW RESTRICTIONS AFTER LOCKDOWN ENDS ON TUESDAY AT 11.59PM
- No visitors to homes
- The 5km limit will lift completely
- Hospitality, retail and gyms can reopen, but there are limits of one person per 4 square metres
- School students and teachers will return to classrooms on Wednesday
- Gyms will reopen, community sport and dance classes will resume
- Ski fields will be open but holidaymakers will need a negative test to enter
- Families can go on holidays with members of their household only
- Masks remain mandatory indoors and outdoors