Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has resigned from cabinet and the Parliament, just a day after Premier Daniel Andrews revealed she was “accountable” for the botched hotel quarantine program.
“I am disappointed that my integrity has sought to be undermined,” Ms Mikakos said in a statement on Twitter.
“I know that my statement and evidence [to the inquiry] would have been uncomfortable for some.
“I have today written to the Governor of Victoria to resign my commissions as a Minister effective today. I will also be resigning from the Parliament.”
The Victorian Health Minister was part of the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry, where she claimed she was not part of the decision to use private security in the botched hotel quarantine program.
“I was not part of any decision-making process to use private security contractors in the HQP [Hotel Quarantine Program]. I do not know who made this decision,” Mikakos said in a written response she submitted to the inquiry.
“I would not support the engagement of private security contractors in any future iteration of the HQP.”
READ MORE: Mikakos: I was not part of decision to use private security in hotel quarantine
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In a full statement posted to Facebook, Mikakos says she will “take responsibility for my department”.
“With the benefit of hindsight, there are clearly matters that my department should have briefed me on.
“Whether they would have changed the course of events only the Board and history can determine.”
She added that she was disappointed her integrity is being undermined, yet also recognises that her statement and evidence would have been uncomfortable for some.
“I am deeply sorry for the situation that Victorians find themselves in. In good conscience, I do not believe that my actions led to them.I thank Victorians for the privilege of serving them.”
“I thank the Premier, my colleagues, my loyal staff, the Labor Party and broader Labour movement for their support.”
