An Inquiry, an Apology and an Ongoing Mess
The Victorian Government remains incapable of getting the state’s Coronavirus quarantine system right.
Some Victorians who returned from the Green Zone of New South Wales by the 11.59pm January 1st border closure deadline have been placed into mandatory Hotel Quarantine.
This morning, the DHHS has quietly indicated a review of their detention, asking detainees the basic questions that should have been asked before travellers were detained.
Liberal Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said it’s a mess all over again.
“The questions detainees are now being asked are the questions for which DHHS should already have answers.
“Otherwise, on what basis did they detain these people?” Mrs McArthur asked.
The questions include their date of arrival in Victoria, locations attended in NSW 14 days prior to arrival in Victoria, and their home address if they are Victorian residents.
“This Government detains first, asks questions second. It is playing with people’s lives.”
On New Year’s Eve, the Acting Premier Jacinta Allan, put out a statement advising Victorians in NSW to come home due to the ongoing Covid-19 problem in Sydney.
“They were told that ‘under the changes, any Victorian currently in the Green Zone’ would have until that time to come back, get tested and then quarantine at home for 14 days.
“However, there are examples of Victorian families that have been separated by the border despite following the rules,” Mrs McArthur said.
Some were told by DHHS staff at Melbourne airport that they would be able to return to their Victorian homes.
“Instead, 17 of them they were detained at the airport for seven hours with no access to food, and only allowed to use the toilet under guard.
“They were kept uninformed of their situation the entire time until they were finally handed detention notices and advised they would be taken into mandatory hotel quarantine where they remain.
“They were also told by a DHHS authorised officer that they would not be required to pay for the quarantine costs.
“And yet, on arrival at the hotel, they were told they are liable for the $3000+ costs,” Mrs McArthur said.
Today, the Acting Premier Allan has been forced to backflip on the costs.
“Once again, the Andrews’ Government has mixed messages, wrong information, shambolic processes and sub-par treatment of innocent people.
“This is a mess – and a truly disgraceful way to treat people who have done the right thing and followed their State Government’s instructions.
“Daniel Andrews spectacularly failed at hotel quarantine management and it looks like his replacements are no better.
“If he genuinely takes ultimate responsibility for his Government as he claims to, then he should give up holidaying - as was demanded of Scott Morrison in a bushfire crisis - return to the job and sort out the mayhem that Ministers Allan, Foley and their bureaucrats have left in their wake.
“Innocent Victorians - now stuck in quarantine - might be in a new year but they’re facing the same old tricks, incompetence and unjustified diktats from a Labor Government that is clearly struggling to understand its own rules.”
“Those wrongly detained should be released from quarantine today.”
05 January 2021