Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton has been grilled over the state’s public health response to Covid-19 in a fiery public hearing.
Professor Sutton fronted Victorian Parliament’s pandemic oversight committee on Monday, where he was forced to explain decisions behind mask rules, working from home requirements and vaccine mandates.
During the tense two-hour session, Professor Sutton was also questioned over the push to mandate a third dose of the Covid vaccine.
Premier Daniel Andrews has hinted in recent days further mandates could be on the way and may stretch out to fourth or fifth doses.
The Premier has also taken the issue to national cabinet.
Professor Sutton confirmed he had not been requested to provide advice on broad vaccine mandates.
“So it sounds like the Premier is making these decisions without your input,” Liberal MP Georgie Crozier said.
“I don’t believe there have been any decisions made,” Professor Sutton replied.
The cross-party parliamentary committee has been established as part of the state’s new pandemic specific legislation and is tasked with reviewing pandemic orders.
The committee has the power to refer any matter to Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass for investigation.
Professor Sutton formulates his advice to the government following meetings with health experts and stakeholders, but only Victoria’s Health Minister is now able to hand down pandemic orders.
Professor Sutton was questioned over the government’s last-minute decision to increase crowd numbers at the Australian Open.
It came just two weeks after the government initially capped the event at 65 per cent.
Ms Crozier asked why the government had made the decision, when cases had been higher than the week prior.
Professor Sutton confirmed the Health Minister made the decision to increase the caps, while he did not provide a recommendation for or against.
“So social considerations override the public health risk – is that what you’re saying,” Ms Crozier asked.
“Did he not get advice from you about the risk of spread when the crowd increased?”
Professor Sutton said he made no recommendation for or against the caps.
“The pandemic bill explicitly gave the minister the opportunity and the obligation to have broader considerations about what pandemic orders should be in place,” he replied.
Members of the committee used the two-hour hearing to discuss IVC procedures and elective surgery, which have been matters of political contention in the state.
The government this month drastically overturned its decision to halt IVF procedures following public pressure, but has yet to allow non-urgent elective surgery.
Professor Sutton confirmed he had no involvement in the IVF decision, and that both issues were a matter for the Secreatary of the Department of Health, Professor Euan Wallace.
Professor Sutton explained his advice around working from home requirements.
Victorians have been required to work from home for almost the full two years of the pandemic, with authorities recently recommending workers continue to stay away from the office.
The requirement has had devastating effects on the economy, particularly Melbourne’s CBD, with many hospitality and retail businesses relying on inner city workers.
When asked why the government continued to recommend the measure, Professor Sutton said it was put in place to slow transmission and ease pressure on the hospital system in recent weeks.
He said it wasn’t a recommendation he was willing to change anytime soon.
“Despite the Covid-safe settings, that does not reduce the risk of transmission within workplaces as fully working from home and reducing the number of people who come together,” he said.
“The risk of community transmission is higher if more people are returning on site.”
Further hearings will be held throughout the year.
