Two weeks on and the hotel quarantine inquiry has yet to answer key question
After 13 sitting days, the hotel quarantine inquiry is yet to uncover who decided to hire private security guards to work at the quarantine hotels.
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Analysis: After 13 sitting days, the hotel quarantine inquiry is yet to uncover who decided to hire private security guards to work at the quarantine hotels.
But it did reveal the Chief Commissioner of Police “recommended’’ the use of private firms.
Commander Tim Tully said he’d received an email from a police superintendent on Friday, March 27.
He told the inquiry the email informed him that: “CCP recommendation that private security is to be the first line of security.’’
The CCP at the time was Graham Ashton. He announced his retirement six weeks later, and was replaced by Shane Patton. Mr Patton lawyered up on Friday, with QC Dan Star granted to leave to appear on his behalf.
It seems unlikely Mr Ashton will be called to give evidence.
Instead, Commander Tully was left to explain that having police at the hotels 24/7 would be an “inefficient use of resources.’’
So instead of police (or the ADF), we got thousands of private security guards, who had no powers to stop people absconding, or to search their bags, and who subcontracted their work to other companies, some of whom then subcontracted again.
The end result was at least 23 security guards contracting COVID-19 at two quarantine hotels and seeding Victoria’s deadly second wave, which has now killed close to 650 people.
The bureaucrat first charged with setting up the program, Claire Febey from the DJPR, wanted the police called in.
“We request that Victoria Police is present 24/7 at each hotel, starting from this evening,’’ she wrote in an email, on March 29, day one of the program.
“We ask that DHHS urgently make that request as the Control Agency.
“Private security contractors have no powers to exercise and have been instructed only to monitor and escalate issues to Victoria Police.
“Thus a permanent presence is necessary rather than patrols or an on-call presence both immediately and for the duration of the quarantine.
“DJPR has no powers to negotiate this so request this is urgently managed by DHHS.’’
Tim Tully said he never received such a request. The DHHS will face questions on it next week.
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