Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has again demanded a 'ring of steel' around Sydney, while vowing to ban NSW residents from his state.
Mr Andrews on Tuesday announced Victoria would be ending its lockdown at 11:59pm wit just 10 Covid cases, as Sydney's jumped by 172.
The premier strengthened the hard border with NSW and declared it would stay that way until Sydney's outbreak was over, or it was locked down to his satisfaction.
He boasted he didn't think there was a 'jurisdiction in the world' that fought off two outbreaks of the Delta strain and offered NSW some frank advice.
'My views on border arrangements are well-known, I made the case and made the comments at national cabinet on Friday,' he said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has again demanded a 'ring of steel' around Sydney, while vowing to do everything he can to keep NSW out of his state
'I can't control what happens there, all I can do is wish NSW well.'
The premier said in time there would be a possibility of Victoria providing some support to Sydney to lighten the load on contact tracers.
Mr Andrews also said the local councils of Wagga Wagga, Hay, Lockhart and Murrumbidgee will not be included in Victoria's travel bubble for at least two weeks.
'I take no pleasure in having to essentially lock out those four communities from Victoria, but there's a refusal to lock people in Sydney into Sydney, so I have no choice but to make these changes,' Mr Andrews said.
The mood quickly became tense when a reporter asked why the premier hadn't personally notified NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian of his decision.
'I've had a busy morning, so has she. My views on these matters are well known. I've been too busy to pick up the phone today,' a cranky Mr Andrews replied.
The terse premier said he wasn't there to apologise for not reaching out to Ms Berejiklian and said 'frankly it wasn't my top priority'.
Mr Andrews on Tuesday announced Victoria would be ending the lockdown period at 11:59pm that evening, as Sydney's Covid-19 cases hit a record high of 172
Daniel Andrews has proudly boasted he didn't think there was a 'jurisdiction in the world' that had fought off two Delta outbreaks and offered NSW some frank advice
When asked if there was any positive reception to the idea of a 'ring of steel' around Sydney at national cabinet, Mr Andrews shrugged and replied 'clearly not'.
'Well, not from the person that actually matters,' he said, in reference to Ms Berejiklian.
The Victorian leader said that while there were discussions of city-wide restrictions across Sydney and his infamous 'ring of steel', he was simply giving advice on what worked in his state.
'It's through painful, tragic and bitter experience that we are able to advise others of what has actually worked,' Mr Andrews lamented.
'Victorians can speak with authority and tragedy and that's why we're making these respectful recommendations to others.
'It worked here and there's every chance it could work there. They've got a different view and that's fine.
'They'll be locked out of our state for as long as they have that view or they get their cases down - whichever is sooner.'
Mr Andrews said there was clearly no positive reception to his suggestion of a 'ring of steel' around Sydney at national cabinet on Friday, in reference to the NSW Premier
The Victorian premier said his state's permit system and border bubble with NSW had been tightened today, after the virus was detected 120km from
