Decision on security guards need corruption probe, says Jeff Kennett
In a scathing attack, former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett says the inquiry into the hotel quarantine program isn’t asking the hard questions and needs to call more witnesses.
HS Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from HS Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Former premier Jeff Kennett has accused the Andrews government of corrupting “the process of government” in Victoria, saying the awarding of the hotel quarantine security contract should be referred to the state’s anti-corruption body.
Describing the Coate Inquiry into the bungled hotel quarantine program as “a sop” which was not asking the hard questions, Mr Kennett also questioned why “half the people who should have been appearing before the inquiry haven’t been asked”.
His attacks will air on Sunday as part of an investigation into the hotel quarantine fiasco by Sky News Australia’s Peta Credlin.
The Hawthorn Football Club president said the inquiry had been set up by Premier Daniel Andrews “to delay any outcome until hopefully most of COVID had passed”.
He said it was implausible so many witnesses to the inquiry would be unable to recall who decided to use private security guards in the program.
“Every minister and every public servant gave the same answer: ‘I can’t remember’,” Mr Kennett said
“Rubbish. They were told to give that answer, and who instructed them to give it? That’s why this inquiry is a waste of time and a waste of money.”
Mr Kennett said even “more crucial” than the mismanagement of the hotel quarantine program, which led to hundreds of deaths and economic devastation, is that “this government has corrupted the process of government in this state”.
He added: “Not only the process, but what they deliver and that corruption — that corruption of the principles of the Westminster system is just appalling.”
In an interview with Ms Credlin, Mr Kennett said the $30m contract for hotel quarantine security granted to Unified Security should be investigated by IBAC.
“It should be at IBAC — if it’s not there now, it should be,” he said.
“It should have been there the moment we were made aware of it.”
Board of inquiry chair Jennifer Coate earlier said she had not ruled out calling further witnesses as they try to find out who made the ultimate decision to hire private security.
Every government witness at the inquiry, including Mr Andrews, denied involvement in the decision.
The board is expected to hand down findings and recommendations by December 21.
MORE NEWS
STATE BUDGET TO ‘KICKSTART’ ECONOMY
FRONTLINE HEROES THANK YOU VIDEO BLOCKED
HEALTH CHIEFS CONFIDENT RISK OF THIRD WAVE IS ‘MINIMAL’
Peta Credlin’s special investigation, Deadly Decisions: Victoria’s Hotel Quarantine Catastrophe, will be broadcast on Sunday night at 8pm on Sky News on Foxtel.