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Hotel quarantine: $3m inquiry into failed COVID-19 plans underway
As Victoria’s cases continue to escalate, the inquiry into the state’s bungled quarantine hotel program is underway. Commissioner and former judge Jennifer Coate used her opening statement to warn government agencies against failure to cooperate.
Naomi Neilson
In opening statements on Monday, 20 July senior counsel Tony Neal QC confirmed a $3 million hotel quarantine Inquiry would be examining the possibility that the current outbreaks in the state are mostly linked back to the botched COVID-19 program.
“Understandably, there [have] been intense community interest and daily commentary in the media about this program,” said Mr Neil in his statement. “Increasingly over recent weeks, there has been growing and understandable community concern about these transmissions from that program [and] into the general community.”
The inquiry has already reviewed information that suggests there is a strong possibility of a link between many current cases and the hotel program. Comments made by the chief health officer also suggested that it may even be that “every case of COVID-19 in Victoria in recent weeks could be sourced to the hotel quarantine program”.
To establish and implement the hotel program, a range of contractual agreements and other arrangements were entered into between government departments, the medical services, transport and food providers. Mr Neil said the inquiry is anticipating hearing from various witnesses on the purpose of these directions and agreements.
The facilities were designed by state and territory governments and had support from the Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force. Among the conditions from the hotel program was that detainees were to not leave their room and could not invite other people into the room, unless for specific and approved reasons.
Mr Neil said the inquiry had received a number of submissions about “what went well, what went less well” in managing quarantine. The issues that were identified from the submissions included the speed of which the program was set up, oversight of service providers and how complaints and concerns were addressed, among others.
In her closing statements, commissioner Coate warned agencies: “To get this done, I expect no less than full, frank and timely cooperation from all [the] government agencies and departments to allow me to do my job for the people of Victoria.”
At the start of the quarantine inquiry, Premier Daniel Andrews thanked the commissioner and those running the inquiry for “[getting] the answers we need” by wasting no time. He said he is confident the process will reveal the source of the hotel outbreaks.
“What has gone on here is completely unacceptable to me and unacceptable to all of us but the best thing to do is to have a proper understanding of exactly what has gone on. Those answers, that is what we’re entitled to and that is what the judicial process, at arms-length from government, will appropriately deliver,” Mr Andrews said.
The inquiry will resume in August when witnesses will be called. It will be going through all submissions, most of which will be delivered by Friday.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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