In a wide-ranging interview, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet defended his decision to send children back to face-to-face learning at schools and keep New South Wales open amidst the Omicron outbreak. 

"Ultimately, we have to have an open society and get back to normal".

"We need kids back in the classroom". 

"We can't go back to what has occurred the last 24 months". 

Dominic Perrottet told Clinton Maynard that Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce labelling Prime Minister Scott Morrison as a 'liar' and 'hypocrite' in leaked text messages is "Incredibly unhelpful, a complete distraction away from what the real issues of the day".  

"Mums and dads across the country over the dinner table are not talking about leaked text messages". 

"They are talking about issues that matter to them, which is the cost of living, household budgets, getting kids back to school and staying in work".