Gladys Berejiklian forced to slap down her deputy as he goes rogue while 'bored and lonely' in isolation and says NSW has 'lost control' of the Indian Delta variant and should have locked down a 'WEEK earlier'

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said NSW had 'lost control' of the Delta variant
Nationals leader suggested state could've locked down a week earlier
It is a rare flash of dissent about NSW Health's approach to the pandemic
Premier Berejiklian defended NSW Health, saying advice 'is on the money'
One insider went further, rubbishing Barilaro as 'bored and lonely in isolation'
Mr Barilaro is quarantined after fellow MP Adam Marshall tested positive

By Daniel Piotrowski for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 04:53 BST, 29 June 2021 | Updated: 05:05 BST, 29 June 2021

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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has publicly slapped down her deputy premier John Barilaro - after he went rogue and said the government had 'lost control' of the spread of he Indian Delta variant.

The Nationals leader is in isolation after attending a Parliament House function with unknowingly Covid-positive fellow MP Adam Marshall a week ago.

Mr Barilaro told ABC Radio on Tuesday that the government could have locked down days earlier and there was 'no question, last week we lost control of the Delta strain.'

'Hindsight is a beautiful thing, absolutely we could've gone a week earlier, three days earlier, four days earlier,' he said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has slapped down her own deputy, John Barilaro, after he said the state 'lost control' of the Delta variant last week

John Barilaro - who is in isolation - told ABC Radio the government could've locked down a week earlier, with hindsight

Mr Barilaro said the government hadn't locked down sooner because 'that wasn't the advice' they received from chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant's team.

'Right throughout this 18 months, we've relied heavily on Kerry Chant's team and the advice has not led us astray. But this (strain) is very different, the way it's spread'.

The comments represent a rare flash of dissent from a government frontbencher about NSW Health's approach to the pandemic and contact tracing focus.

Ms Berejiklian was asked whether she agreed with her lieutenant's comments during her daily announcement of Covid numbers on Tuesday.

Ms Berejiklian shook her head, saying she agreed with Dr Chant and the health advice, which her government had adhered to as if it was 'the letter of the law and has stood New South Wales well.

'It's early days and I don't want to regret what I'm about to say. We had anticipated potentially a surge in cases by today. That could happen in the next few days.

'But what that demonstrates to us is the health advice has been pretty much on the money.'

One government insider went further, rubbishing Mr Barilaro as 'bored and lonely in isolation.'

Greater Sydney plunged into lockdown on Saturday, one day after residents of the City of Sydney, Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick council areas were ordered to stay home.

New South Wales reported 19 new Covid cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday night, just up from 18 cases the previous day.

At the weekend, Daily Mail Australia unearthed video of Ms Berejiklian declaring a month ago that the state would 'never' go into lockdown again.

However, NSW residents are far from alone in being subjected to stay-home orders.

South-east Queensland, Perth and Darwin are in lockdown or are set to be in hours.

SYDNEY'S LOCKDOWN: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW UNTIL JULY 9

Those living in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shellharbour and Wollongong must abide by the following:

Masks are mandatory in all indoor settings outside the home, including offices

Weddings are banned and funerals are capped at 100 people - or 1 person per 4sqm - with masks required indoors

There is no curfew but a stay at home order applies, with only four reasons to leave your home

*The four reasons you can leave your home:

Shopping for food or other essential goods and services

Medical care or compassionate needs (including to get a COVID-19 vaccine)

Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer

Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home

The rest of NSW (including regional areas) is subject to the following restrictions:

No more than five visitors (including children) allowed in homes

Masks are compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings

The four-square-metre rule is back for indoor and outdoor settings and drinking while standing at indoor venues is not allowed

Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs, but dancing is allowed at weddings for the wedding party (no more than 20 people)