The sneaky theory behind why Victorian Premier 'Chairman' Dan Andrews changed the start time of his daily press conferences to be an hour earlier this week

Daniel Andrews has been accused of deliberately moving his daily press conference an hour earlier to distract from an inquiry into the state's hotel quarantine debacle.

On Monday and Tuesday this week the premier held his briefing at 10am, an hour before the usual time of 11am.

The inquiry into the quarantine scheme, which failed to contain the virus and sparked the state's deadly second wave, begins at 10am each day with key witnesses being questioned.

Daniel Andrews has been accused of deliberately moving his daily press conference an hour earlier to distract from an inquiry into the state's hotel quarantine debacle

Opposition MP Matthew Guy also said Mr Andrews deliberately changed the timing of his briefing to take attention away from the inquiry

The Australian's workplace editor Ewin Hannan described Mr Andrews' change of timing of as a 'crass attempt at media management to minimise attention' on the inquiry. 

Opposition MP Matthew Guy also claimed Mr Andrews deliberately changed the timing of his briefing to take attention away. 

'For Andrews and Labor, media spin always comes first - always. It's all about the PR. And for Andrews, it's all about him,' he wrote.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the premier's office for comment. 

Chris Eccles, the premier's right-hand man

Victoria's second wave began in late May when hotel security guards and staff failed to adhere to social distancing requirements, caught the virus and spread it around Melbourne. 

The Andrews government has been criticised for using private security guards instead of soldiers and police to run the quarantine scheme.  

On Monday the inquiry heard from the man who runs the premier's office, Chris Eccles, who said he did not know who made the decision to use private security instead of ADF troops to enforce the quarantine.

The inquiry heard that Mr Eccles was offered ADF support from Canberra but he could not remember if he told the premier, or anyone else, about the offer.

Daniel Andrews has denied that hundreds of troops were offered. 

On Tuesday the inquiry heard from the head of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions and the boss of the Department of Health and Human Services. 

At his press briefing on Tuesday Mr Andrews refused to answer questions over who made the decision to use private security guards to man quarantine.

He is due to appear before the inquiry on Friday afternoon.

'I can confirm to you that I'll be truthful, absolutely honest and direct,' he said.

Victoria has had three coronavirus deaths, while new cases jumped on Tuesday to 28.

The latest fatalities take the state toll to 766 and the national figure to 854.

The news cases are a significant spike on Monday's 11, the lowest Victorian figure since June 16.

But the crucial 14-day rolling average of new cases for Melbourne continues to fall to 32.8, while it is holding at 1.6 for regional areas.

Cases with an unknown source from September 6-19 are 45 for Melbourne and none for regional Victoria.

Mr Andrews encouraged anyone with a scratchy throat, runny nose or headache to get tested for the virus. Pictured: Melbourne residents on Saturday

There was some good news for Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday, with a Newspoll showing a majority of Victorian voters back his handling of the state's second wave.

Some 62 per cent said they were satisfied with his performance even though the virus escaped from hotel quarantine in late May and caused a deadly second wave.

The Newspoll also found that 61 per cent of Victorians thought the state's lockdown restrictions were 'about right'. 

A quarter of people said they were too strict and 10 per cent said they were too lenient.  

Asked how Mr Andrews was handling his job, 62 per cent of voters were satisfied and 35 per cent were dissatisfied for a net satisfaction score of 27 per cent.

The September net score was up from 20 per cent in July when the state's second wave of infections began to emerge. In April, it was 58 per cent. 

Mr Andrews has been under constant criticism since he plunged Victoria back into lockdown on 8 July. The state's second wave has caused more than 700 deaths, mostly in aged care homes. 

It began when hotel security guards and staff failed to adhere to social distancing requirements, caught the virus and spread it around Melbourne.  

Opposition MPs want restrictions relaxed faster as the lockdown threatens to put up to 400,000 Victorians out of work by Christmas. Pictured: A Melbourne park on Saturday