Troops land in Melbourne to prepare for reset hotel quarantine program

Defence troops have arrived in Melbourne to help manage the state’s reset hotel quarantine as international travellers get set to return.

Australian Defence Force troops have touched down in Melbourne to undertake critical training ahead of the state’s revamped hotel quarantine program on Monday.

Large numbers of personnel in masks were seen leaving the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre on Saturday, as the state government declared it was “ready to manage international arrivals”.

The troops will work alongside Victoria Police at hotels across Melbourne, but an ADF spokesman said they would not be authorised as law enforcement officers.

Seventy-five members of the army’s 3rd Brigade flew out of Townsville and arrived at Avalon Airport on Friday to undergo mandatory training this weekend ahead of the relaunch.

A further 35 air force personnel from RAAF East Sale have also been deployed on Operation COVID-19 Assist in Melbourne.

“Defence is working closely with the Victorian government to determine how the ADF can best support the hotel quarantine of international arrivals in Victoria,” the spokesman said.

Defence tropps arrive in preparation for hotel quarantine training at the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre. Picture: Alex Coppel

ADF troops will work alongside Victoria Police at hotels across Melbourne. Picture: Alex Coppel

The move follows the failures of the bungled hotel quarantine system with the use of private security guards, which was responsible for seeding a devastating second wave of coronavirus.

Travellers, who will begin arriving at Tullamarine Airport on Monday, will be charged $3000 for their 14-day stay in Victoria’s reset hotel quarantine program.

But opposition police spokesman David Southwick said the government did not have the legal powers to charge hotel guests, and that the program was in “disarray”.

“How much more taxpayer funds will (Premier) Daniel Andrews be spending due to his complete failure to prepare?” he said.

“Labor’s management of returned travellers is farcical.”

A government spokesman said it was “more than ready to manage international arrivals”, with staff preparing and training for months to ensure “we have the strictest safety standards and processes”.

“Police have already been providing security at hotels since July,” he said.

“And while we had hoped to see ADF free up police to do other important work, their decision not to undertake security and floor monitoring functions will not have an impact on our preparedness”.

The spokesman added that legislation must be introduced into parliament for the government to be able to charge returning residents and visitors for hotel quarantine.

“This will occur at the earliest opportunity on Tuesday,” he said.

“We hope to see the legislation passed quickly, to bring us into line with other states.”

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