Hotel quarantine inquiry: Victorian Government failed to call in Red Cross to help
The Victorian Government did not take a vital step involving the Red Cross, it can be revealed, as the explosive hotel quarantine inquiry continues.
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Exclusive: The Victorian Government failed to call in the Red Cross to help with its fatally flawed hotel quarantine program, despite the organisation having a standing officer to assist.
The revelation comes as professional mixed martial arts fighter, “Genghis’’ Kaan Ofli, readies to on Monday give evidence to an inquiry into the hotel program.
Melbourne-born Mr Ofli, 27, will give a first-hand account of his experience during his 14-day mandatory quarantine period.
Two security guards will also give evidence.
The Red Cross has confirmed to the Sunday Herald Sun it had no formal or informal role in the hotel quarantine inquiry, despite being heavily involved in NSW and Queensland.
“Our Emergency Services support, where we focus on Psychological First Aid, was offered as per emergency arrangements, and was not requested,’’ a spokeswoman said.
“It’s part of the usual suite of offerings and is activated on request, so on this occasion it wasn’t requested.’’
Red Cross is working to assist other Victorians in the community who are struggling through the COVID-19 crisis.
The mandatory detention of returning overseas travellers into hotel quarantine has proved so traumatic for some people that the inquiry investigating the infection control flaws that unleashed Victoria’s second wave is now live-streaming Lifeline’s number, and regularly giving support numbers to those in distress.
The Red Cross website shows the organisation made 92,547 wellbeing calls to 19,086 Queenslanders in self isolation or hotel quarantine.
They also made 15,245 wellbeing calls to 12,452 overseas returned passengers in hotel quarantine in NSW.
At least one person is believed to have taken their own life while in quarantine in Melbourne, in an incident that is being investigated by the Victorian coroner.
The Red Cross is well known and respected for being a “friendly face’’ at emergencies such as bushfires and floods.
The Victorian Government declined to say why it did not utilise the services of the Red Cross.
“The nature of support provided to hotel guests, who provided it and why those arrangements were put in place is being considered by the judicial enquiry,’’ a spokesman said.
“We will let the inquiry do its work – our focus remains on containing this virus.’’
The exact number of people who underwent mandatory hotel quarantine in Victoria between March 29 and when the program was suspected in early July is not known, but it’s understood to be around 20,000.
The Australian Border Force said 27,370 travellers arrived into Victoria between March 29 and the cessation of international flights on June 30.
However, a number of these were air crew who did not need to quarantine, along with transmit passengers, who also did not go into quarantine.
It also does not take into account those who received exemptions.
A spokeswoman for Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass said 17 complaints were received by the Ombudsman’s office relating to hotel quarantine.
Most related to access to fresh air and exercise, exemptions, food and mental health. The majority were resolved after the Ombudsman’s office contacted the DHHS, and no formal inquiries were undertaken.
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