The state opposition has called for Health Minister Jenny Mikakos to resign and accused her of showing contempt for Parliament and the Victorian community.
During raucous exchanges in the upper house on Tuesday the opposition lobbed at least five questions at Ms Mikakos on her government's coronavirus response – including hotel quarantine, genomic testing, the health advice behind Victoria’s restrictions and a lack of funding for the Health Department – but received zero answers.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos was glued to her phone in State Parliament on Tuesday.Credit:Jason South
Clearly unimpressed with having to attend State Parliament after health advice recommended against it, Ms Mikakos stood again and again to respond to opposition questions by repeating the same mantra: “I thank the member. I’ll be providing [them] with a written response to [their] question by tomorrow”.
Her "answers", delivered with a bit of a grin, sparked outrage from the opposition and shouts across the chamber that Ms Mikakos should resign.
A skeleton cast of mask-wearing MPs took part in question time on Tuesday, despite protestations from the government and advice from Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton that it would be "prudent" to delay Parliament sitting.
While the Labor-controlled lower house cancelled this week’s proceedings, the opposition-held upper house insisted that the government, in particular Ms Mikakos, should face scrutiny.
The fireworks began with a question from opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier who asked Ms Mikakos on what date in March or April she was advised of serious issues in Victoria’s hotel quarantine program.
Ms Mikakos began her answer by pointing out her presence in the upper house "should not be interpreted as in some way ignoring the advice of Professor Sutton, our Chief Health Officer".
Liberal MP David Davis, the leader of the upper house, said Ms Mikakos must "answer the simple question" from Ms Crozier but Ms Mikakos continued to speak about why she didn’t believe she, or anyone else, should be there in the first place.
"Just answer my question," shouted Ms Crozier. "That just says it all. Minister, do you accept full responsibility for the failures in the hotel quarantine security program?"
Ms Mikakos said she would provide a written answer.
An incensed Bernie Finn, a Liberal MP, yelled out that Ms Mikakos must resign.
"You have no shame, do you? You have no shame," Mr Finn says.
Mr Davis agreed. "President, that is an appalling response by the minister," he said.
"An appalling contempt of the Parliament, contempt of the community. This is a serious matter that is impacting right across the community."
Mr Finn chimed in again with: "You are a disgrace. You are a shameful disgrace."
Before question time began there was a testy exchange in the chamber between Ms Mikakos and Dr Catherine Cumming, an independent upper house MP representing Victoria’s western district.
Dr Cumming said the government has not faced enough scrutiny and criticised their push to have upper house question time cancelled.
"How I should I have my questions answered? … Should I attend the daily briefing with the Premier?" Dr Cumming asked.
Ms Mikakos, who spent the first 20 minutes of the sitting looking at her phone, said Dr Cumming, like other MPs in the upper house, shouldn’t be in Parliament.
"Lead by example," Ms Mikakos said, before returning to her phone.
Ms Mikakos left the chamber as soon as question time finished, prompting one last barb from Ms Crozier.
"She’s the deputy leader of the government, where is she? She’s not doing a very good job," Ms Crozier said.
Get our Morning & Evening Edition newsletters
The most important news, analysis and insights delivered to your inbox at the start and end of each day. Sign up here.
Source: Read Full Article