Hotel Quarantine Inquiry to start Monday, but no witnesses for weeks
It will be several more weeks before the Andrews government fronts up to the major failings of its hotel quarantine fiasco. As the government continues to dodge questions over its handling of the bungled scheme, these are the answers Victorians are demanding.
HS Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from HS Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Victorians will be kept in the dark for several more weeks about major failings of the state’s hotel quarantine fiasco.
The government has dodged questions over its handling of the bungled scheme since Daniel Andrews launched the inquiry on July 2.
Initial genomic sequencing flagged that most, if not all, of Victoria’s second wave of cases were caused by breaches within the trouble-plagued system.
Updated sequencing data has now been kept secret with Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton saying on Friday that he supported a decision not to release aheadof the inquiry, which will hold its first public hearing on Monday.
But no witnesses will be called until August when further public hearings are scheduled.
On Monday, in a hearing expected to last up to 90 minutes, former judge Jennifer Coate, who is conducting the inquiry, and counsel assisting Tony Neal, QC, will make their opening statements.
The proceedings will be livestreamed.
The inquiry will then continue to collect information, review material and determine which witnesses will be called before further hearings.
Kristine Hanscombe, QC, will represent the Department of Justice.
The Herald Sun understands that ministers, departmental staff and security guards involved in the program could all be called to testify.
But while the inquiry has the power to compel witnesses to attend, unlike a Royal Commission, it cannot force them to answer questions if they fear self incrimination.
The Premier has said he would appear if called and expected Justice Coate to be able to conduct the inquiry in any way she needed.
But concerns have been flagged about the scope and powers of the inquiry, including whether or not the terms of reference will limit the inquiry’s reach.
Under the inquiry’s terms of reference the decisions and communications between government agencies, hotel operators and private contractors are set to be probed.
However specific decisions of a policy nature – as opposed to its implementation by an agency – may be beyond the scope.
The inquiry is set to review how the quarantine program was set up, how it operated, and why private security contractors were chosen to patrol quarantine hotels over police or Australian Defence Force personnel.
Private security firms MSS, Unified and Wilson were controversially engaged to supply staff to patrol the hotels and in some instances work was further subcontracted to smaller operators.
Which government department had ultimate responsibility for the program has been unclear as ministers have worked to distance themselves from the program.
It is understood the guards were monitored by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, but the department did not have strong oversight over sub contractors.
The infection control branch of the Department of Health and Human Services conducted a review of measures after outbreaks were first linked to the hotels.
Mr Andrews has refused to answer questions about the program, including why Victoria used private security contractors and why a request for 850 military personnel was cancelled soon after being submitted.
MORE NEWS
LIMITATIONS INTO HOTEL QUARANTINE INQUIRY REVEALED
M EDICAL EXPERTS CALL FOR STAGE FOUR RESTRICTIONS