James Campbell: Responsibility for quarantine debacle dodged again

For many Victorians it came as no surprise that once again no individual was found to be held responsible for the debacle that killed 800 people.

Given we spent almost $20m on an inquiry that spent months looking into hotel quarantine but couldn’t work out who made the decision to hire private security guards, should we really be surprised no individual will end up being held responsible for the debacle that killed 800 people?

Ever since word broke that WorkSafe had begun probing one of the deadliest public policy disasters in Victoria’s history, observers had wondered if one of Daniel Andrews’ ministers or his public servants might end up being charged under his own industrial manslaughter legislation.

It was not to be. Those who are hoping for someone to be held accountable will have to content themselves with breaches of the Bracks era Occupational Health and Safety law.

To be sure, if the department pleads guilty or is found by the courts to be guilty of failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment for its employees or failing to ensure that other people were not exposed to risks that it was responsible for, it will be damning indictment of the competence of the Daniel Andrews government.

But that will be the end of the matter.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews won’t face individual charges over the debacle. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

On previous form, the chances of the government fighting these charges would appear remote.

In 2017, WorkSafe charged Corrections Victoria over the 2017 riot at the remand centre at Ravenhall.

No evidence was led in the case because the government pleaded guilty, copping a $300,000 fine.

The best way to think about that is to imagine a wheelbarrow full of taxpayer money doing a lap of the Melbourne Magistrates Court. Along the way some of it fell off and into the hands of waiting lawyers, with the balance eventually returning back to the Treasury.

To be fair, in this case they might need a bigger wheelbarrow, as each of the 58 charges carries a maximum penalty of $1.64m.

But the principle is the same – the Victorian government is charging the Victorian government, which might have to pay a fine to the Victorian government.

No ministers or public servants will be held personally liable for what went on and that will be the end of the matter. WorkSafe’s media release announcing the prosecutions also revealed it will not be charging any other government entity such as the Department of Jobs, Precincts and the Regions.

That’s all folks.