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Calls to sack health official after she compares virus to Captain Cook's arrival

Nadine Carroll
Updated ·3-min read

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has called for the sacking of Victoria’s deputy chief medical officer, Dr Annaliese van Diemen, after she likened coronavirus to Captain Cook's arrival in Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also weighed in saying Dr van Diemen should “stick to her day job”.

Dr van Diemen created a stir with her Twitter comment on Wednesday – the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook's arrival in Australia.

"Sudden arrival of an invader from another land, decimating populations, creating terror. Forces the population to make enormous sacrifices & completely change how they live in order to survive. COVID-19 or Cook 1770?" she wrote.

Peter Dutton (left) has called for Dr Annaliese van Diemen (right) to be sacked after she compared COVID-19 to Captain Cook. Source: AAP
Peter Dutton (left) has called for Dr Annaliese van Diemen (right) to be sacked after she compared COVID-19 to Captain Cook. Source: AAP

Mr Dutton has described the senior Victorian health official as “unfit for that office” and said “she should go”.

“I think it's pretty obvious in the middle of a pandemic the second highest medical officer in the state of Victoria should be concentrating on the people of Victoria and the crisis associated with COVID-19,” Mr Dutton told the Today Show on Friday.

“Instead she is off running culture war debates. I think if there is any integrity in the system she should be punished.”

Calls to sack health officer after she compared coronavirus to Captain Cook. Source: Twitter
Calls to sack health officer after she compared coronavirus to Captain Cook. Source: Twitter

Scott Morrison says comments were ‘very disappointing’

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he found the comments "very disappointing".

"She clearly wouldn't get the job as chief historian," he told 2GB radio on Friday.

"I applaud the work she is doing as a medical officer in Victoria, that's her expertise, I would strongly suggest she keep to that, because those sort of comments don't inspire confidence.

"People should stick to their day jobs.”

Deputy leader of the opposition Richard Marles, also appearing on the Today show, said Dr van Diemen’s comments weren’t “particularly helpful”.

“I think the anniversary of Captain Cook and COVID-19 are two very separate and different things. I think the Deputy Health Officer Should be focusing on her job,” he said.

Opposition Health spokesperson Georgie Crozier described Dr van Diemen’s comments as “highly inappropriate”.

“The Deputy Chief Health Officer has a role in providing advice to the premier and state ministers on the COVID-19 pandemic, not an inaccurate history lesson to Victorians,” she said in a statement on Thursday.

“This is divisive commentary at a time when we are being told to work together”.

Senator defends Dr van Diemen

Northern Territory senator Malarndirri McCarthy told the Today show on Friday Dr van Diemen is doing an amazing job in Victoria.

“Let's face it, Captain Cook is a controversial figure. You only have to talk to first nations people across the country to realise that there is a lot to be said.

“Naturally the timing of this, obviously people will be very concerned, but I just don't think calling for her sacking is the way to go. She is doing a terrific job, along with the State Government in Victoria in trying to protect the people of Victoria,” she said.

There are 1,364 cases of coronavirus in Victoria and there have been 18 deaths in the state.

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