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Brett Sutton, the outgoing chief health officer who lead Victoria’s health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been named Victorian of the Year.
The Victoria Day Council – a small non-profit body established to celebrate Victoria’s foundation on July 1 – awarded Sutton their top prize for 2023 at a ceremony at the Melbourne Town Hall on Friday morning.
Brett Sutton spent a tumultuous four years as Victoria’s Chief Health Officer.Credit: Joe Armao
The council is distinct from the Australia Day Council, which bestows the Australian of the Year and other esteemed honours – including the Victorian Australian of the Year.
Previous Victorian of the Year winners include ex-AFL coach and player Kevin Sheedy last year; AFL legend and MND campaigner Neale Daniher in 2019; former Western Bulldogs president Susan Alberti in 2018; former chief scientist Alan Finkel in 2016; and former Seekers singer Judith Durham in 2015.
The outgoing CHO became a high-profile figure when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Victoria in 2020, overseeing tough measures – including lengthy lockdowns – as the state battled significant outbreaks.
Sutton announced his resignation earlier this month to take up a new public health role at the CSIRO later this year.
Pandemic health orders handed the chief health officer enormous power during the protracted COVID-19 health emergency, giving Sutton the right to veto state government decisions. New pandemic laws passed in December 2021 ended the CHO’s dual role by enabling the health minister to issue pandemic orders, returning executive power to the government.
After appearing before the media almost daily alongside Premier Daniel Andrews at the peak of the pandemic, Sutton has rarely been seen in public in his capacity as CHO in recent months.
More to come.
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