Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has faced scrutiny over the origins of Melbourne’s COVID-19 curfew.
It came after the release of documents obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
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The documents reveal that the curfew, which restricted movement from 8pm to 5am during the 2020 lockdowns, was not based on “public health advice” but was instead a decision made by the state’s Crisis Cabinet.
The curfew decision was announced by former premier Daniel Andrews after it was made by Labor’s eight-member Crisis Cabinet Committee, of which Allan was a member.
In her first public appearance since the release of the documents, Allan defended the decision, stating that the priority at the time was to “protect the lives and livelihoods of Victorians”.
“The advice from the public health officials, the advice from the Chief Health Officer at the time, was to look at what could be done to limit movement,” Allan said.
However, when pressed by journalists, Premier Allan refused to disclose who initiated the idea of the curfew.
“I truly reject that,” she said.
Allan said the former premier and former Chief Health Officer had explained in detail why the curfew was introduced.
“The health advice at the time was to look at measures to limit the movement of people, and this decision was entirely consistent with that advice at the time and again.”
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