Dan Andrews rules out home quarantine in Victoria despite inquiry recommendation

Daniel Andrews has revealed whether he would allow people to quarantine from home instead of in hotels after an inquiry recommended it.

Home quarantine for returning travellers will not be an option for returned travellers in Victoria despite it being a recommendation from the inquiry into the bungled hotel program.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews all but ruled out using home quarantine travellers start arriving in Melbourne again on December 7 because it was not supported by the national cabinet.

“I think the Prime Minister and other first ministers have made it clear that there is not a consensus, there is not a view at the national cabinet level that home quarantine is an appropriate response to the risk that we face at the moment,” Mr Andrews said.

The Premier is yet to reveal how Victoria’s hotel quarantine program will operate but on Thursday he told reporters there would be an announcement very soon.

It comes after health workers in full personal protective equipment and transport drivers were spotted running a training drill at a Melbourne hotel this week.

Victoria Police at the Novotel South Wharf, which has been used as a quarantine location during the second wave. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“Having some novel approach in Victoria, which will almost certainly mean that other states were not comfortable with the arrangements, would therefore, for instance close borders,” Mr Andrews said.

“I think we’re going to have a hotel based system but it will look and be different to what it was last time.

“Our national borders are not controlled by Victoria, they’re controlled by the federal government.

Premier Daniel Andrews has ruled out using home quarantine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Chris Hopkins

“It’s a decision that has to be nationally supported otherwise by proxy we finish up with all unintended consequences like borders for instance being closed.”

Victoria hasn’t received any new overseas arrivals – other than those with an exemption – since the program was shut down and an inquiry was announced in June.

The state’s second coronavirus wave that led to almost 20,000 infections and 800 deaths spread in the community after escaping from hotel quarantine.

Travellers being temperature checked at Sydney Airport in August. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

The COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry’s interim report, released by former judge Jennifer Coate earlier this month, recommended a mix of hotel and home-based quarantine be used for returned travellers.

She also recommended considering using electronic ankle or wrist bracelets to monitor those allowed to isolate at home.

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