Questions On Quarantine Qualms
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has submitted a series of Questions on Notice directed to Government Ministers involved in the hotel quarantine program and the on-going management of virus containment.
Questions are being directed to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Lisa Neville; the Minister for the Coordination of Jobs, Precincts and Regions: COVID-19, Martin Pakula; and the Minister for Corrections, Natalie Hutchins.
Mrs McArthur is asking about the use of Victoria Police officers, Protective Services Officers, private security guards and Corrections Victoria staff, particularly in relation to those who normally reside in rural and regional Victoria outside the locked down metropolitan area.
Mrs McArthur is concerned about the potential for those officers, guards and staff, assisting in the hotel quarantine and other aspects of virus outbreak management returning to country Victoria at the conclusion of shifts without being tested as virus free.
Parliament is set to resume on Tuesday 4 August 2020, but there is still no guarantee that the Government will uphold this commitment with Stage 3 restrictions still set to be in place.
Mrs McArthur said, “Essential services across the state remain open under these restrictions, and there is no more essential service than the provision of democratic representation through the convention of Parliament.”
“Ministers have continually avoided all correspondence, most Questions on Notice and other forms of Parliamentary scrutiny, in relation to their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is worse now that their own incompetence has instigated a new outbreak, which is not only threatening Victorian lives and livelihoods but those across the rest of Australia.”
“With virtually no scrutiny and democracy just about dead in Victoria, perhaps journalists will have more luck in asking Ministers these important and need-to-be-answered questions for many regional Victorians, than elected Members of Parliament."
In relation to the questions, Mrs McArthur said, “Rural and regional Victorians are no-doubt grateful that the State Government chose to exclude them from the return of Stage 3 restrictions impacting metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire, but it is pointless if there are workers going into COVID-19 hotspots and returning to rural Victoria, without assurances that they’re uncontaminated.”
“It’s imperative that the Ministers answer these questions, particularly Ms Neville who claims to represent a regional area. Her constituents could be put at significant risk if officers or staff are returning to Geelong and her Bellarine electorate without being tested.”
“With all the scandals emanating from their hotel quarantine debacle and other aspects of their pandemic management, it would be unsurprising if the government itself was not responsible for further negligently endangering regional Victorians.”
Questions submitted to Legislative Council Table Office (awaiting final approval for tabling):
MRS MCARTHUR – To ask the Minister for Training and Skills (for the Minister for Police and Emergency Services): In relation to the use of Victoria Police officers and Protective Services Officers in the hotel quarantine program:
How many officers from regional Victoria are assisting the program.
Where are officers from regional Victoria are being accommodated in Melbourne.
Are officers from regional Victoria returning to their home communities at the conclusion of their shifts.
Are officers from regional Victoria that return to their home communities on weekends or days off, awaiting negative test results before returning.
How many officers from regional Victoria have tested positive for COVID-19 after assisting in the program.
MRS MCARTHUR – To ask the Minister for Regional Development (for Minister for the Coordination of Jobs, Precincts and Regions: COVID-19): In relation to the use of private security guards in the hotel quarantine program:
How many private security guards from regional Victoria are assisting the program.
Where are officers and private security guards from regional Victoria being accommodated in Melbourne.
Are private security guards from regional Victoria returning to their home communities at the conclusion of their shifts.
Are private security guards from regional Victoria that return to their home communities on weekends or days off, awaiting negative test results before returning.
How many private security guards from regional Victoria have tested positive for COVID-19 after assisting in the program.
MRS MCARTHUR – To ask the Minister for Regional Development (for the Minister for Corrections): In relation to the use of Corrections Victoria staff in the hotel quarantine program:
How many Corrections Victoria staff from regional Victoria are assisting the program.
Where are Corrections Victoria staff from regional Victoria being accommodated in Melbourne.
Are Corrections Victoria staff from regional Victoria returning to their home communities at the conclusion of their shifts.
Are Corrections Victoria staff from regional Victoria that return to their home communities on weekends or days off, awaiting negative test results before returning.
How many Corrections Victoria staff from regional Victoria have tested positive for COVID-19 after assisting in the program.
MRS MCARTHUR – To ask the Minister for Regional Development (for the Minister for Corrections): In relation to the potential risk of COVID-19 spread in Victorian prisons:
Have any inmates been infected with COVID-19.
What is the process if an inmate is infected with COVID-19.
Have any staff or Corrections Officers been infected with COVID-19.
15 July 2020