The Andrews government in Victoria, Australia, acted in a totalitarian and anti-democratic manner during the Covid-19 pandemic, based on a document revealed by Sky News in 2025. The Andrews government, led by then-Premier Daniel Andrews, is accused of anti-democratic and totalitarian behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic. A document, kept secret for over four years and revealed by Sky News in 2025, allegedly shows that Andrews knew Victorians were not consulted before the "crisis cabinet" announced a curfew in Melbourne on August 2, 2020. This curfew, which restricted movement to within five kilometres of home and forced thousands to stay indoors at night, is presented as an example of overreach.
The document reportedly indicates that Professor Brett Sutton, Victoria's Chief Health Officer at the time, described the curfew decision as one of his most difficult, calling it "awful advice to have to give to any government." Sutton also revealed that he held one of the hundreds of daily coronavirus briefings in the purple-walled Treasury Theatre, a detail the text uses to suggest a lack of transparency or seriousness in decision-making. The document implies a disconnect between the government's actions and public consultation, as the curfew was implemented without prior public input.
The revelation has prompted Victoria's Opposition Leader Brad Battin to call for renewed calls for a full state parliamentary inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic. Battin expresses anger, reflecting on the time when Victorians complied with strict rules, suggesting that the lack of consultation undermined democratic principles. Victoria's Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas granted an interview to discuss the revelations, indicating the issue's political significance.
The text frames the Andrews government's actions as part of a broader pattern of undemocratic governance, with Sky News obtaining the document under a Freedom of Information request (Document 34). The curfew and lack of consultation are portrayed as evidence of the government prioritising control over democratic processes during the pandemic.
The argument here defends the view that the Andrews government's failure to consult Victorians before imposing the curfew violates democratic principles. In a democracy, major policy decisions—especially those restricting fundamental freedoms like movement—should involve public input or, at the very least, transparent justification. The document's revelation that Victorians were not consulted supports the claim that the government acted unilaterally, resembling a top-down, authoritarian approach rather than a collaborative democratic one. For example, other democratic governments, such as New Zealand's during the same period, often held public briefings to explain and justify lockdown measures, supposedly fostering trust and accountability, although that too is questionable.
The curfew's severity—limiting movement to five kilometres and enforcing night-time confinement—is cited as evidence of totalitarian tendencies. The defence here is that such measures, implemented without clear evidence of necessity or proportionality, mirror tactics used by authoritarian regimes to control populations. Victoria's lockdowns were among the strictest globally, with Melbourne enduring over 260 days of lockdown across the pandemic, earning it the title of the "most locked-down city in the world." The curfew, combined with other measures like police enforcement of restrictions, could be seen as prioritising state control over individual rights, a hallmark of totalitarian governance.
The document being kept secret for over four years, only revealed through a Freedom of Information request, supports the argument of anti-democratic behaviour. A democratic government should operate transparently, especially during a crisis, to maintain public trust. The defence here is that withholding such information—particularly about a decision as controversial as the curfew—suggests an intent to avoid scrutiny, a tactic often associated with authoritarian regimes. Professor Sutton's admission that the curfew was a difficult decision, further underscores the need for transparency, as the public deserved to know the reasoning behind such a drastic measure at the time, not years later.
The anger expressed by Brad Battin and the call for a parliamentary inquiry reflect a broader sentiment that the Andrews government's actions were excessive and undemocratic. This perspective defends the idea that the public and opposition leaders have a right to question and investigate decisions that impacted millions of lives. The curfew, alongside other measures, led to significant public unrest, including protests in Melbourne that were met with police crackdowns, further fuelling perceptions of authoritarianism. The government's actions alienated citizens and eroded trust, a consequence of anti-democratic governance.
"A bombshell document kept secret for more than four years shows Victoria's public health commander was not consulted before Daniel Andrews' "crisis-cabinet" announced a curfew on Victorians almost five years ago.
The email - obtained exclusively by Sky News - has already prompted anger within the Victorian Opposition and even a partial concession within both the Labor government and the state's current Health Minister.
In August 2, 2020, the crippled region of metropolitan Melbourne was imposed with the unthinkable prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, a curfew limiting movement at night and also forcing thousands to stay within five kilometres of their home.
During that year, Professor Brett Sutton, Victoria's Chief Health Officer described decisions he made, including the curfew, as among his most difficult.
"This is certainly awful advice to have to give to any government," Professor Sutton told one of the hundreds of coronavirus news conference briefings held in Victoria's purple-walled Treasury Theatre.
Fast forward nearly five years and only now is the disconnect within the state government's decision making becoming clear.
The revelations, uncovered in the document and analysed by Sky News, have since prompted Victoria's Opposition Leader Brad Battin to renew calls for a full independent state parliamentary inquiry into the effects of the pandemic.
"I'm angry on this one and I think back to the time all Victorians complied by the rules put out by the Labor government," Mr Battin told Sky News in an exclusive interview.
Once Sky News obtained the document, Victoria Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas granted a rare, forthright and lengthy interview to discuss the revelations.
Sky News obtained a single document known as Document 34, released by the state government under Freedom of Information to the Victorian Opposition after a lengthy legal battle through the state's civil tribunal VCAT and the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Document 34 is one email between then Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton and the health department's public health commander Dr Finn Romanes.
Dr Romanes at the time was employed as a senior Department of Health and Human Services public servant who issued directions, under the State Of Emergency declared five months before the email.
After viewing the daily news conference, Mr Romanes wrote to Professor Sutton at 5pm on Sunday afternoon.
"Having been off duty for two days and having missed key conversations and considerations I have not seen any specific written assessment of the requirement for a curfew,
"that it is Premier and Cabinet's clear intention that the action of a curfew is required at the current time, based on the press conference,
"I note that the Cabinet briefings are not specifically containing a written consideration of a curfew.
"In this way, the action of issuing a curfew is a mirror to the State of Disaster and is not occurring on public health advice but is a decision taken by Cabinet and announced today, as an important step in the response."
Dr Romanes then asked for approval from his superior, Professor Sutton to issue curfew orders.
"..do you agree that a Direction can be issued by me indicating a curfew?"
Professor Brett Sutton responded shortly after.
"Your assessment is correct as I understand it. As a Public Health direction mirroring the curfew already decided in the State of Disaster, I am supportive of you authorising it as such,"
"There appears to be merit in it limiting opportunities for transmission, perhaps especially in high-risk cohorts," Professor Sutton wrote in the email reply.
In the exclusive interview with Sky News, Victoria Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas was asked if the document proved the curfew was a captain's call by then Premier Daniel Andrews.
"At the time we were working with the available information and it was a very uncertain time," the Minister told Sky News.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X64cZBYwSMM
"A bombshell document shows Victoria's public health commander was not consulted before Daniel Andrews' "crisis-cabinet" announced a curfew on Melburnians almost five years ago. The email obtained exclusively by News Corp has already prompted anger and even a partial concession within both the Labor government and the state's current Health Minister. In August 2, 2020, the crippled region of metropolitan Melbourne was imposed with the unthinkable prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a curfew limiting movement at night and also forcing thousands to stay within five kilometres of their home."