Surging vaccination rates have prompted Daniel Andrews to fast-track freedoms for long-suffering Victorians holed-up in their sixth brutal Covid lockdown.
But the 'control freak' premier has come under fire from critics who claim the move would never have happened if it weren't for his NSW counterpart Dominic Perrottet.
A stinging opinion piece claimed the Victoria leader was 'shamed' into easing restrictions in the beleaguered state after locals saw jealous-inducing photos of Sydneysiders celebrating.
NSW reached 80 per cent vaccination coverage over the weekend and will further ease restrictions on Monday, just a week after ending lockdown.
Pictured: Sydneysiders celebrate at the iconic Opera Bar as NSW reached 80 per cent vaccination coverage over the weekend
Critics of Victorian Premier Dan Andrews (left) says he was 'shamed' in to reopening by NSW leader Dominic Perrottet (right)
Melbourne's current 73 day lockdown was due to end on October 26 but will now end four days earlier for anyone who is double-dosed. Pictured: A woman is arrested as Police gather to stop anti-lockdown protesters in Melbourne on October 16
Melbourne's 73 day lockdown was due to end on October 26 but will now end five days earlier for anyone who is vaccinated.
Mr Andrews also overhauled the rules for the first stage of reopening to have fewer restrictions, including removing a ban on home visits.
'Does anyone seriously think Premier Andrews would have promised to end Melbourne's lockdown from midnight next Thursday unless he'd been shamed into it by Perrottet?' right-wing pundit Andrew Bolt wrote in the Herald Sun on Sunday.
'Think: Andrews ordered Melbourne's sixth lockdown last August when there were just eight new infections, but on Sunday ordered it to end when there were almost 2,000, with seven people dying.
'But Andrews had to let go after Perrottet sped up Sydney's opening, filling TV news bulletins with happy shots of Sydney residents partying, having haircuts and hugging friends, while new infections in NSW kept falling to just 301 on Sunday.'
Melburnians have spent an agonising 258 days in lockdown since the pandemic began in early 2020.
The city recently surpassed Argentinian capital Buenos Aires as thecity spending the most days in lockdown in the world.
Fully vaccinated Melburnians will be able to able outdoors in groups up to 15 (pictured Victorians having a picnic in Princes Park)
But Melbourne will finally emerge from stay-home orders at 11.59pm on Thursday, the day Victoria is expected to reach the 70 per cent vaccination target.
The hated night curfew and 15km
