Daniel Andrews scores prestigious leadership nomination.

Originally posted by JoeGambler: ↑

Um no, the 'second wave' was caused by the reintroduction of the virus via the hotel quarantine program, and subsequently got much worse due to woefully inadequate and overwhelmed contact tracing, that's how it got to 700 a day. You could also argue VicGov waited far to long to introduce restrictions in May and June as it was taking off, but the original sin was administrative failures. Genomic testing showed the second wave cases were a different strain to the first wave in Feb/March, so the initial lockdown did effectively eliminate it. Yes, numbers then came down to zero after 3 months of some of the harshest restrictions in the World that cost victorians 800 lives, and about $1b a week in economic damage. however as someone who lived through it that is not something to celebrate, we HAD to do it. Victoria by far has recieved the most Federal gov support so the failure of VicGov was a significant blow to the country.

Now Melb is in lock down again due to TWO staff members contracting the virus and one spreading it to family. So again, a reintroduction of the virus via quarantine and VicGov not comfortable relying on tracing and isolation. This current lock down will cost about $1b and once again demonstrates that VicGov still does not have confidence it can in managing quarantine and/or mopping up any outbreaks without lock downs.

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so it all comes down to poor implementation of contact tracing. Thats awfully simplistic. I seem to remember/you might also:
- people walking around the Melbourne without masks or social distancing contrary to public health advice in June (public not taking it seriously).
- Rhetoric around how it was a fake virus and "personal rights" or whatever. Or general conspiracy theories around herd immunity at the risk of lives with no vaccine.
- many were supposed to be self isolating at home weren't and just ignored advice. when the ADF were called to enforce it, oh my lord the pearl clutching!

the idea now that they waited "too long" is really a *** argument. they tried, people didn't listen until they were forced to, even now the adult babies are crying because they can't go to the pub. Even then the other side of politics which has a duty to criticise didn't have a plan, at all. was generally quiet. which didn't fill me with any confidence.

I love the hyperbole is that the "harshest restrictions in the world cost victorians 800 lives" is it better to be in North Korea? US, UK, Sweden? am I correct in assuming you'd prefer to let it go and cost 8000 or more?
the restrictions didn't kill people, the mismanagement of the quarantine system coupled with ignorance of the public taking (still) zero responsibility killed those people.
Perhaps a national standard is best, glad we got there after 12 months of pandemic what a joke....cue the sovereign citizens...