NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been accused of going into “hiding” after announcing daily Covid-19 press conferences will end.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is under fire over a shock decision to suspend daily press conferences declaring: “I will turn up when I need to”.
Just as daily case numbers continue to climb towards 2000 infections a day and thousands in hospital, the NSW Premier confirmed today she was terminating the practice of daily press conferences.
It will be replaced by videos of Department of Health officials running through the daily figures. It does not appear there will be the opportunity to answer questions.
The announcement sparked a furious exchange with Channel 7’s Chris Reason who demanded to know how this was acceptable.
“We’re going to see hospitals come under the greatest stress they have ever seen and you and your ministers are about to cancel this press conference. Are you going into hiding?’’ he asked.
“Can I just say clearly and loudly to the people of NSW, we will be here whenever we need to communicate something very important to the community,’’ she said.
Journalists then interjected, “We are getting a video message?!”
“What we need to do is all of us have to start accepting that we need to live with Covid because Covid would be around for three or four years and it is not tactical to do everything,’’ she said.
Ms Berejiklian was then asked if she should at least keep holding press conferences until the peak had passed.
But the NSW Premier then responded that she didn’t know when that was.
“We will never know exactly when that is,’’ she said.
“I can assure the people of this state and they can judge me on my record, whenever I need to speak directly to the public, I absolutely will, but we also have to make sure that as a government, we normalise the way we do things every day, that we accept that, if the risk nothing new to tell the public apart from the daily figures, and health will provide that.
“If there is anything which the public needs to hear directly from government, whether it is myself, the Minister for health, the deputy premier, of course, we will do that but.”
The NSW Premier then told journalists: “I will turn up when I need to.”
The decision was slammed by journalists on social media.
But Channel 9’s state political editor Chris O’Keefe backed the plan to scrap daily press conferences because it was feeding “collective anxiety.”
“If you want to move towards Covid normal, 11am briefings need to go. Unless there is something to say, they serve no purpose,’’ the journalist said.
The decision to cancel the press conference was also cautiously backed by The Daily Telegraph’s political editor James Morrow.
“Probably a smart move. If you want to get back to normal, don’t create an environment to whip up panic every day,’’ he said.
However, the ABC’s head of investigations and executive editor John Lyons said it was an “appalling decision.”
“Appalling decision by NSW Premier. Worst of the crisis is about to hit. There are still serious Q’s whether NSW hospitals will cope. Yet on that cusp she announces an end to daily conferences. Whatever critics made of Vic Premier he fronted every day. Accountability right now is critical,’’ he said.
Today show presenter Lara Vella also split with her Channel Nine colleague Chris O’Keefe over his support for the move.
“Sorry, Chris. Totally disagree. When the government has forced people to not work, get vaccinated, get tested, stay at home etc. The least they can do is provide a live daily update. Especially with cases still so high,’’ she said.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiqwFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC9uc3ctYWN0L2FyZS15b3UtZ29pbmctaW50by1oaWRpbmctZ2xhZHlzLWJlcmVqaWtsaWFuLXNsYW1tZWQtZm9yLWVuZGluZy1kYWlseS1jb3ZpZDE5LXByZXNzZXJzL25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvNGNjOGFhMzlkZGU1M2IyMWQwZDdhMmJmZTA4YmZiNTbSAa8BaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvbnN3LWFjdC9hcmUteW91LWdvaW5nLWludG8taGlkaW5nLWdsYWR5cy1iZXJlamlrbGlhbi1zbGFtbWVkLWZvci1lbmRpbmctZGFpbHktY292aWQxOS1wcmVzc2Vycy9uZXdzLXN0b3J5LzRjYzhhYTM5ZGRlNTNiMjFkMGQ3YTJiZmUwOGJmYjU2P2FtcA?oc=5
2021-09-10 01:46:47Z
52781869321892
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "‘Are you going into hiding?’: Fury at Premier - NEWS.com.au"
Post a Comment