Emergency Management Minister Lisa Neville says she didn’t have power to reconsider hotel quarantine decisions
Lisa Neville can’t say why private security was used for the state’s botched hotel quarantine program. In evidence given to an inquiry, she said she had no power in the decision making around how Victoria Police was to be involved
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The minister responsible for Victorian emergency management cannot say why private security were put in charge of guarding returned travellers during the state’s botched hotel quarantine program.
On Wednesday, Lisa Neville told an inquiry into the program her role was to ensure “satisfactory arrangements are in place to facilitate the prevention of, response to, and recovery from emergencies” including “governance functions” but it did not extend to “operational matters.”
At a March 27 meeting with Ms Neville, neither then Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton or Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp raised concerns about the use of private security guards for the program.
Ms Neville said she did not have power to “reconsider decisions” about the structure of the quarantine program.
Genomic sequencing has determined more than 99 per of cases in Victoria’s second COVID-19 wave, that began in June, are linked to returned travellers.
Ms Neville, who is police minister, has joint other government ministers and public servants who said the health department was responsible for the hotel quarantine program.
“I was not involved in making decisions about the structure or operation of the hotel quarantine program, or the role to be played in it by Victoria Police,” Ms Neville said in a statement to the inquiry.
She said if police were to be used for the program she would be consulted.
“If there had been any serious contemplation at a high level of a model where Victoria Police would play a significant new role in guarding people quarantining in hotels, I would have been consulted in the making of that decision.
“Every time Victoria Police has been asked to perform a role, they have agreed to and have performed that role.”
On June 25 as Victoria’s second COVID-19 wave was beginning, Ms Neville became “cranky” because she was unaware Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp requested 850 ADF personnel to help with hotel quarantine a day earlier, the inquiry heard.
On the morning of June 25, Mr Crisp said to Ms Neville the ADF would be a “interim option” while the use of PSOs and police were “explored.”
MORE NEWS
IS ALLEGED COLAC SWINGERS PARTY LINKED TO OUTBREAK?
VOTE TO CROWN GEELONG’S CUTEST CAT
GIN AND SPRITZ BAR OPENING IN GEELONG
On Wednesday Ms Neville said she was “annoyed” because the government needed to be able to show the Commonwealth the ADF would be used to fill gaps.
“In enforcement areas there is an issue because the ADF cannot enforce (the law). We need to make sure we’re using them appropriately.”
By 2pm on June 25 the request for ADF help was withdrawn.
Three days after Mr Crisp’s request, the state government’s crisis cabinet, of which Ms Neville is a member, decided to use prison guards for the program.
By then the virus has already spread into the community.
Originally published as Emergency Management Minister Lisa Neville says she didn’t have power to reconsider hotel quarantine decisions