Victorian government MPs have accused the state opposition of “vile and disgusting gutter politics” and “spreading conspiracies” after it issued a press release with a list of questions about how the premier, Daniel Andrews, broke his back.
The Labor premier has been on extended leave since 9 March, when he slipped and fell on wet stairs at a holiday home on the Mornington Peninsula, breaking several ribs and his T7 vertebra.
He is expected to return to work this month, but is awaiting final medical clearance.
On Monday, the Liberal opposition issued a statement saying Andrews should not continue to receive his full salary while on sick leave.
“Enough is enough, Daniel Andrews can’t continue to get paid for a job he’s not doing,” the opposition treasury spokesperson, Louise Staley, said. “He should only be getting the basic MP’s pay while he’s off work.”
She also claimed Victorians needed “honesty and transparency” from Andrews about how he sustained his injury, and called on him to answer a list of 12 questions about the circumstances of the fall before he returns to work.
Her questions included where the ambulance was dispatched from, what time it was called and whether police were called.
“Everyone is entitled to privacy about their health, but these questions are not about the nature of his injuries, only how he got those injuries,” she said. “If there is no coverup, then there is no reason not to provide answers to these simple questions.”
There is no evidence that Andrews has hidden any information about his injury. He has issued several statements about it since March.
The Labor MP for Mordialloc, Tim Richardson, said the Liberal party statement was “the most vile and disgusting gutter politics we’re seeing in Victoria”.
“Instead of working to support the efforts of Victorians to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic, the Victorian Liberals are spreading conspiracies about premier,” he said.
This is the most vile and disgusting gutter politics we’re seeing in Victoria. Instead of working to support the efforts of Victorians to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Victorian Liberals are spreading conspiracies about Premier @DanielAndrewsMP #istandwithdan #gutterliberals https://t.co/l4n2ap8PQB
— Tim Richardson MP (@TimRichardsonMP) June 7, 2021
The Bentleigh Labor MP, Nick Staikos, said the Liberal party was worse than rats.
Rats crawl in gutters, Tim. The Victorian Liberals are worse.
— Nick Staikos MP (@NStaikos) June 7, 2021
Sonja Terpstra, the Labor MLC for Eastern Metro, called the Liberals’ statement “puerile”.
What does Louise Staley make of Christian Porter taking time off to resolve his legal problems on full pay then? Should I list all the other Fed Lib MPs who took oodles of time off as well? #springst #auspol https://t.co/fQc4JS6DOa
— Sonja Terpstra 🐓 (@TerpsMLC) June 7, 2021
The Labor MP for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing, said it was a “cheap, utterly puerile release”.
A cheap, utterly puerile release that says far, far more about the person who wrote it, and the Opposition that authorises it, than anything or anyone else. #springst #auspol https://t.co/wP16xNB8lS
— Harriet Shing MP (@ShingvWorld) June 7, 2021
The federal Labor MP for Gellibrand, Tim Watts, and the state MP for Bayswater, Jackson Taylor, compared the release to QAnon conspiracy theories.
Was Qanon involved?? The Vic Libs want to know! https://t.co/pqmPPfkj6T
— Tim Watts MP (@TimWattsMP) June 7, 2021
“This goes beyond the pale of politics,” said Taylor. “So extremely disappointing.”
Has Louise outdone Bev on crazy? Her contribution is a real crack to give Bev’s ‘stuff Victoria’ a nudge. This is from the QANON handbook. https://t.co/OSgbPHjL5q
— Jackson Taylor MP (@JacksonTaylorMP) June 7, 2021
The state’s local government minister, Shaun Leane, invoked more longstanding conspiracies, asking: “If you play a Beatles record backwards, will we get the answers?”
Was there a second set of stars on a grassy knoll?
— Shaun Leane (@ShaunLeaneMP) June 7, 2021
We’re the US flags on the moon casting a shadow?
Was Elvis working a shift at a nearby 7/11 ?
If you play a Beatles record backwards will we get the answers?
Sad, desperate flaying around from Victoria’s-worst ever opposition pic.twitter.com/czMKSYdaxB
Earlier, the opposition leader, Michael O’Brien, told reporters he wished the premier well, “but clearly I think there are some questions that are in the public interest to be cleared up at some point”.
Guardian Australia has asked O’Brien’s office for comment.
Staley has reportedly turned down a request from Sky News.
.@LouiseStaley has made public a long list of requests for Premier Dan Andrews, but when asked if she would do media with @SkyNewsAust #FirstEdition tomorrow, we were told no. 🤔🤔
— Zoe Hunt (@zoeahunt1002) June 7, 2021
The premier’s office has declined to comment on any speculation about Andrews’ injuries.
Andrews issued a statement about how the fall happened within hours of it occurring, and has since provided updates about his recovery.
He said he was staying in a holiday house with his family for the Labour Day long weekend and thanked the paramedics who attended and took him to hospital. He spent six days at the Alfred hospital, four in intensive care, and has since been recovering at home and working regularly with a physiotherapist.
On Saturday his wife, Catharine Andrews, posted a photo of the premier getting a haircut.
Despite these updates, his absence has been the subject of online conspiracy theories.
– with AAP
