Premier Daniel Andrews launched a scathing attack on Josh Frydenberg after the Federal Treasurer accused the Victorian Government of “callous indifference” to job losses in the state.
The new cases reduce the rolling 14-day average for Melbourne to 7.2, although it remains at 0.5 in regional Victoria.
The number of “mystery” cases remains 15.
The new fatality raises Victoria’s coronavirus death toll to 817 since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Mr. Andrews said the latest death was that of a man in his 90s who was in the age-old care system.
Daniel Andrews reacted in an angry way to the remarks of the Federal Treasurer, who on Monday morning accused the Prime Minister of “callous indifference” to the plight of small businesses during the Victoria lockdown.
“It’s all about the politics with this bloke isn’t it? That’s all he does,” Mr Andrews said of Mr Frydenberg.
“He is not a leader, he is just a Liberal, because all he does is play politics in the midst of a global pandemic.”
“I haven’t played politics during this crisis, I didn’t play politics during the bushfires and believe me I could have, but I did not, because I don’t believe that is appropriate.”
With Vic case numbers in low single digits, it’s time for small businesses to reopen in a COVIDsafe way – creating jobs & getting Victorians back to work.
Every day of the lockdown, 1000+ jobs in Victoria have on average been lost. pic.twitter.com/lTliuD5CJm
— Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) October 18, 2020