LEADER of the Victorian Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said the time has come for Premier Daniel Andrews to go.
Mr Walsh said the Premier’s determination to be a one-man band, the hero of the fight against COVID-19 had “failed spectacularly”.
And said Victoria was now united in its utter disappointment with the Andrews Labor Government ever finding its way out of the farcical shutdowns to which it has condemned Victorians – and the Victorian economy.
“We have put forward proposals about reopening regional Victoria by postcode and many other alternatives; but they have been categorically rejected by Mr Andrews and his gang – the COVID Eight – that is running Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.
“In 90 minutes on Sunday the grand Daniel Andrews plan, the Daniel Andrews road map out of the mess created by his failure with the COVID-19 quarantine program and contact tracing, had just one mention for regional Victoria.”
Mr Walsh said when the Premier admitted he had lost his notes about what will happen to regional Victoria, he lost more than just a piece of paper, he lost the last shred of credibility.
He said with Victoria being run by the COVID Eight instead of its Parliament; being run by “ridiculously excessive” emergency powers and being run into the ground by Mr Andrews and his COVID gang; the people are meeting the real Mr Andrews.
“To call this an insult is nowhere near the total disdain he has shown for hundreds of thousands of people who have done everything right – and this is their thanks,” Mr Walsh said.
“There are 27 local government areas in regional Victoria that have never had COVID cases,” he said.
“Across northern Victoria there is just a handful of active cases; all well below the government’s own benchmark of 10 cases reported – a day.
“Most of northern Victoria hasn’t had 10 cases – period.
“This was a massive chance missed to unlock the state, postcode by postcode, and Daniel Andrews has ignored every suggestion and proposal put forward by the Liberal Nationals.
“Businesses and jobs being lost – and no clear plan to reopen regional Victoria – this isn’t a roadmap to recovery; this is a roadmap to nowhere.”