Following Jenny Mikakos’ resignation from her ministerial position, yesterday, Premier Daniel Andrews announced that Martin Foley will become the Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services and Minister for the Coordination of Health and Human Services for COVID-19.

Ms Mikakos’ resignation came after Mr Andrews named the former Health Minister accountable for the failed hotel quarantine program at Friday’s inquiry.

Not everyone condoned this turn of events which felt like a blow to the Greek Community.

Victorian Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier said Premier Daniel Andrews “needs to go” next after her Labor counterpart quit the Cabinet.

“She’s gone now but only on Thursday Daniel Andrews was backing her and said he had confidence in her. He has lied, he has actually made so many cover-ups, or said so many cover-ups, in relation to this whole dreadful situation. And he’s still got his position, he says accountability stops with him, he needs to go too,” Ms Crozier stressed.

“We had in this inquiry 10 senior bureaucrats that couldn’t tell us who appointed the security guards in the hotel quarantine program…They all need to go.”

“He threw her under a bus yesterday at the hotel inquiry, he wanted a scalp to make him look good, but, honestly, he has got a lot to answer for,” Ms Crozier added.

Neos Kosmos contacted the Premier’s office and a Government Spokesperson responded that “The Inquiry was established to give us the answers we need and deserve – and we’ll let it continue to do its work,” while acknowledging that

“The Greek community has been significantly impacted by the pandemic and, like all Victorians, have made incredible sacrifices to slow the spread of the virus.”

Also read: There’s more to Jenny Mikakos than meets the eye

Meanwhile, Vice President Fair Go For Pensioners Coalition George Zangalis said that:
“Whilst many people can understand the political and moral imperatives that led to Mikakos’ resignation, the ultimate political price paid for a chronically sick health system crying out for radical changes, for those who know her, including myself for over 30 years, it is fair and indeed imperative to acknowledge her immense and often unique contribution to the best interests of Victoria,  her Party the ALP and its leftwing, the wider labour movement and ethnic minorities.”

“Politics, progressive politics consumed all her life with deep  conviction and integrity to social justice, multiculturalism, endless  hard work and for growing wiser. Thank you Jenny for all the good you have done, and much more you can do in the fields of your new  endeavours.

George Zangalis is also a Life Member of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and the Retired President of the Public Transport Union.

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