Premier's crack at reporter over question about ScoMo's holiday
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has hit back at a reporter who asked for his take on Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s holiday.
Mr Morrison previously announced he would be taking some time to spend with his family during the school holidays, but would not completely step away from his duties as the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen in Victoria.
"As a dad, I will take some time but at the same time I can assure you we will remain absolutely focused on the things we need to focus on next week,” the Prime Minister said on Friday.
At a briefing on Sunday, a reporter asked Mr Andrews what he thought of the Prime Minister taking a break amid the pandemic, after Victoria reported 273 new cases of coronavirus and another death.
Mr Andrews said he was asked similar questions during the summer when Australia was ravaged by bushfires while Mr Morrison holidayed in Hawaii.
“I wouldn't begrudge anyone taking time off with their family, I don't think that's an unreasonable thing,” Mr Andrews said before also addressing the fact that Mr Morrison went to the football.
“And before you give me the footy question, I've got better things to worry about than who went to the footy in NSW.”
Mr Andrews added he would focus on what needs to be focused on, and once again said he would not have a dig at the PM for spending time with his family.
He said there was nothing to be gained by offering his opinion on the matter.
Just last year when bushfires were devastating the country, Mr Morrison faced backlash for ducking off to Hawaii for a family holiday.
In December, Mr Morrison said the deaths of two volunteer firefighters in NSW prompted his decision to cut his holiday short and come back to Australia.
The PM’s absence during the dire time was widely condemned, with hashtags ‘Fire Morrison”and “Not My PM’ trending on social media.
A Victorian-based fashion brand had a cheeky dig at Mr Morrison, designing Hawaiian ScoMo shirts to raise money for the RFS.
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Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Friday he will be ducking in and out of family time while his wife Jenny and two daughters take a school holiday break on the outskirts of Sydney.
“As you know, it is school holidays and Jenny and the girls will be taking some time on the outskirts of Sydney but given the changing critical situation we have in Victoria, I will not be joining them for that full-time," he told reporters on Friday.
"I will also not be standing aside from the tasks I have all day.”
He said he would still be taking calls and meetings and sitting in on briefings on the situation in Victoria and other matters throughout the country.
Mr Morrison said he was asking for Australians' understanding.
"Just because I am not standing in front of a camera it does not mean I am not behind my desk or doing what I need to do on a daily basis,” he said.
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