Premier defends hosting AO after covid outbreak

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has defended hosting the Australian Open after coming under attack from sections of the media in Melbourne.

3AW radio station’s Neil Mitchell has slammed the State government for taking an “unwarranted” risk and pushing ahead with the Open, and questioned the inconsistency of quarantine rules.

“If the tennis wasn’t here we wouldn’t be in this situation,” Mitchell said.

“There seems to be a mystery spreader in the tennis camp — how else did this worker get infected?

“We’re here because the government took the risk with the tennis.

Pedestrians walk outside the Grand Hyatt hotel in central Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. All competition at six Australian Open tuneup events scheduled for Thursday was called off after a worker at one of the tournaments’ Melbourne quarantine hotels tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)

“We would not be here, looking over the edge of the cliff, if the tennis had been cancelled.

“The government knows that, and they’re dodging it.”

But Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng said it was “unlikely” the Australian Open would be cancelled.

And Mr Andrews said: “Any person who comes here from any part of the world would present a risk and we have to manage that risk.”

The players and staff in isolation who stayed at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt hotel were being tested for COVID-19 today.

Peter Rowe

Recent Posts

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

2 days ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

2 weeks ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

2 weeks ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

2 weeks ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

1 month ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

1 month ago