Liberal MP Tim Smith says he “can’t begin to emphasise” how important Jenny Mikakos’ comments against Daniel Andrews are.

Former Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos turned on Daniel Andrews – blaming the embattled premier for subverting Cabinet process and contributing to the hotel quarantine disaster.

In a closing submission to the hotel quarantine inquiry, she warned the board of the hotel quarantine inquiry to treat Mr Andrews’ claims with “caution”.

“The fact that no such Cabinet, or Cabinet Committee process, was engaged for the setting up of the hotel quarantine program is the root cause of some of the issues which have been ventilated before the board in the course of this inquiry,” the submission said.

“In this regard, it is respectfully submitted that the board ought to treat with caution the premier’s evidence where he sought to explain the reference to the use of private security in the hotel quarantine program made by him during his media conference that commenced at 3pm on 27 March 2020.”

“I can’t begin to emphasise, particularly to your viewers outside of Melbourne, how important it is Jenny Mikakos said that Daniel Andrews' evidence shouldn’t be necessarily relied upon by the Coate inquiry,” Mr Smith told Sky News host Shari Markson.

“That’s crucially important in all of this.

“Mikakos and Andrews have been in the Labor movement together… for twenty years.

“They were factionally… very close.

“For her to essentially call into question Andrew’s truthfulness, is extraordinary.”

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