When asked whether he would yield to the opposition’s calls for him to resign, a steadfast Dan Andrews said he had no intention of walking away from the top job.
"I am deeply sorry for the situation that Victorians find themselves in. In good conscience, I do not believe that my actions led to them."After telling reporters on Thursday that Mikakos had his full-confidence, Mr Andrews said on Saturday that the Health Minister’s resignation was the "appropriate decision".Ms Mikakos tried to call the Premier before sending the bombshell text.
Government MPs insist the Premier has the support of the Labor caucus and there are no moves afoot to spill the leadership, but Mr Andrews has been warned to change his "authoritarian" leadership style. Ms Mikakos' resignation came as new witness statements tendered to the board of inquiry revealed the hotel quarantine program was hampered because government departments were "competing" with each other and externally to recruit staff.
Ms Mikakos and the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kym Peake have consistently maintained the hotel quarantine program was a "multi-agency operation with shared accountability".The Victorian Liberal opposition has long been calling for Ms Mikakos’ resignation, but on Saturday Michael O’Brien said the Premier had used her as a sacrificial lamb.Darrian Traynor
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would not add fuel to the fire by commenting on Ms Mikakos' resignation or Mr Andrew’s testimony at Victoria's hotel quarantine inquiry.
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Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos resigns | Sky News AustraliaEmbattled Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has resigned from Cabinet and will quit parliament after Premier Daniel Andrews named her accountable for the failed hotel quarantine program at Friday’s inquiry.\n\n“I take responsibility for my department, the buck stops with me,” she said in a statement.\n\n“I have never wanted to leave a job unfinished but in light of the premier’s statement to the Board of Inquiry and the fact that there are elements in it that I strongly disagree with, I believe that I cannot continue to serve in his Cabinet.\n\n“With the benefit of hindsight, there are clearly matters that my department should have briefed me on.\n\n“Whether they would have changed the course of events only the Board and history can determine.”\n\nMs Mikakos said she didn’t believe her actions led to the bungled hotel quarantine, firing a shot at Mr Andrews.\n\n“I am disappointed that my integrity has sought to be undermined,” she said. \n\n“I am deeply sorry for the situation that Victorians find themselves in.\n\n“In good conscience, I do not believe that my actions led to them.”
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