Crisp backs Premier’s ADF support claims, Jobs Minister to face grilling at parliamentary hearing
Emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp said he didn’t ask for ADF help during planning of the bungled hotel quarantine program. It comes as senior members of the Andrews government are set to be grilled at a parliamentary inquiry.
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Victoria’s emergency management commissioner says he did not seek ADF support on the state’s bungled hotel quarantine program during planning meetings.
Andrew Crisp issued a statement after a war of words broke out between Premier Daniel Andrews and federal Defence Minister Linda Reynolds over whether defence force personnel help was offered.
On the day Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the mandatory hotel quarantine program, he said that ADF personnel would be offered to “assist in compliance with these arrangements”.
But Mr Andrews claimed on Tuesday it was “fundamentally incorrect” that his government “said no” to hundreds of ADF members coming to help.
“I don’t believe ADF support was on offer,” he said.
When asked about the March 27 meeting, Premier Daniel Andrews once again rejected claims ADF offers had been rejected.
“I certainly wasn’t at that meeting,” he said.
“That is completely wrong to characterise that (decision) as a rejection of anything.
“Commissioner Crisp is someone who I have a great deal of regard for.
“Someone who Victorians know and understand to be a very good servant of safety and of the public.”
However, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions secretary Simon Phemister said a decision was made to use private security at the 4.30pm meeting on March 27.
He said the department was then commissioned to find private contractors to run the program.
The claims sparked a strong statement from Ms Reynolds, in which she detailed the dates that ADF was offered and “consistently” ignored or rejected.
Mr Crisp said in a statement the ADF was involved in initial planning of the hotel quarantine program.
“Representatives of the ADF participated in the Operation Soteria planning and co-ordination meetings on 27 and 28 March 2020,” he said.
“During these discussions I did not seek nor did representatives of the ADF offer assistance as part of the hotel quarantine program.
“Subsequent communications with the ADF on the 12th and 15th of April did not relate to ADF assistance as part of the program.
“As the Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner I am enormously grateful for all of the assistance our colleagues in the Australian Defence Force have provided as we have responded together to the coronavirus pandemic.”
Mr Crisp’s statement failed to address a request he made on June 24 for 850 ADF staff to enforce “compliance” at the hotels, before the request was cancelled the following day.
Deputy PAEC chair, Liberal MP Richard Riordan, on Wednesday asked for the Premier to be recalled to the hearing to correct or clarify his statement.
Meanwhile, treasurer Tim Pallas has cast doubt over whether or not the government will deliver a budget this year.
Mr Pallas said the state budget was heading for a modest surplus, but a $7.5 billion deficit for 2019-20 is now expected because of the coronavirus pandemic.
”We hope that we will be in a position later this year to deliver a budget,” he said.
Pressed on the issue, Mr Pallas said he expected the budget to be delivered “sometime in October or November”.
Mr Pallas said the state was on track for a return to stage three restrictions next month.
The treasurer said he believed timelines being used for modelling were realistic on the best advice from the chief health officer.
Treasury secretary David Martine said the modelling had also accounted for a gradual easing of restrictions, with a return to stage 2 restrictions in the December quarter.
It comes as Senior Minister Martin Pakula has distanced himself from the bungled hotel quarantine program, saying his department had no role in infection control.
Appearing before the parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee today Mr Pakula said his department had responsibility for some logistical supports.
But he said the multi agency operation meant the Department of Health and Human Services was responsible for infection control.
Mr Pakula also confirmed the budged for securing hotels for the program was in the vicinity of $80 million.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he would not be calling for Mr Pakula’s resignation despite criticism over Mr Pakula’s involvement in the scheme.
VICTORIA ‘CONSISTENTLY’ REJECTED ADF HELP: FEDERAL GOVT
The federal government strongly slapped down a claim from Mr Andrews that the Australian Defence Force was not offered to assist Victoria’s problem-plagued hotel quarantine system.
Mr Andrews made the claim in evidence to the state parliament’s public accounts and estimates committee on Tuesday.
But federal Defence Minister Linda Reynolds quickly hit back, saying ADF assistance had been offered as early as March 27. “The ADF was consistently advised that its assistance was not required for any ‘public-facing roles’ in Victoria,” she said.
In a press conference announcing the hotel quarantine program that day, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said ADF personnel would be offered to “assist in compliance with these arrangements”.
The Victorian government confirmed at the time National Cabinet agreed the ADF would be engaged to support the implementation of new quarantine arrangements.
Mr Andrews claimed on Tuesday, however, it was “fundamentally incorrect” that his government “said no” to hundreds of ADF members coming to help.
“I don’t believe ADF support was on offer. It’s been provided in limited circumstances in New South Wales, not to provide security as such but to provide transportation from the airport to hotels,” he said.
But Ms Reynolds said the ADF had established planning teams in every state from March 21 to “rapidly facilitate any requests for support”.
“Throughout the pandemic the Australian Defence Force has been postured to respond to requests for support from the state and territories at very short notice,” she said.
“ADF officials asked whether Victorian authorities required assistance with its mandatory quarantine system on multiple occasions. No request for quarantine support was subsequently received from Victoria at that time.”
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