Hey Victoria, leave the task of quarantining repatriated Aussies to competent Territorians
VICTORIA, you can have your tennis, but leave the repatriation quarantine to the Northern Territory, writes DENISE CAHILL.
Opinion
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IF there’s one thing that makes me more nervous than missing deadline … it’s Victoria putting more international arrivals through its failed hotel quarantine program.
It was revealed last week that the Victorian government is advertising for another director of hotel quarantine – and more hotels are being added to the program.
The role, which is responsible for overseeing the management of groups of quarantine hotels in the COVID-19 accommodation program, has a salary of up to $249,000, and the contract runs through to November 30.
International arrivals to Victoria are currently capped at 160 passengers per day, but recruitment for a new senior manager is the first major indication the government intends to lift the arrival numbers.
“We are recruiting for an additional role as we prepare for more hotels to come online as the overseas traveller cap is raised from the current average cap of 160 per day,” a government spokesman said.
“This role will be setting up and then overseeing additional hotels as they go live to accept more overseas travellers to Victoria.”
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Expanding the NT’s repatriation program from 5000 to 10,000 is absolutely the right call
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Anyone recall the Victorian Hotel Quarantine Inquiry that revealed what a debacle it was, and how the inadequate program led to a second major outbreak and strict lockdown?
In contrast, other states like WA, QLD and NSW have halved their caps on the number of international arrivals.
However, the Northern Territory will increase its intake after agreeing to accept about 20,000 repatriated Aussies by the end of the year.
The repatriation deal between the NT and federal governments is now worth $243.7m, with a new expiration date of December 2021.
The capacity of Howard Springs is set to increase from 500 people per fortnight to 850 through a “staged ramp-up over January 2021 and May 2021”, according to government documents.
The agreement states that infrastructure costs covered by the deal are limited to the accommodation blocks for repatriated Australians and medical facilities, and that “this will include any necessary upgrades to kitchen facilities and a cyclone shelter”.
The obvious difference between the NT and Victoria is that the Territory has a sophisticated quarantine set-up at Howard Springs and, while active cases are linked to these arrivals, the arrivals pose no threat to the community.
Melburnians, be afraid, be very afraid. There’s every chance a percentage of these international arrivals will have COVID-19, and with a hotel quarantine program with an appalling track record, another lockdown could be imminent.
Victoria, you can have your tennis, but leave the repatriation quarantine to the Northern Territory.
While Australian Open players have arrived from overseas, there’s a raft of other organisations involved in their quarantine program, apart from the Victorian government.
More than 1200 tennis players and workers arrived in Melbourne last week on 15 charter flights.
They were whisked away to three designated quarantine hotels in Melbourne – the Grand Hyatt, View Melbourne and Pullman at Albert Park.
Players will be tested daily and must stay in their room.
Emergency exits will also be rigged with an alarm system.
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Travellers who test positive mid-flight will immediately be placed in a health hotel, while everyone travelling with a positive case will be treated as a close contact.
Sounds like hell, but it’s what these tennis stars are prepared to do to get on the court in 2021 and entertain eager tennis fans … live and on TV.
To all Victorians, Darwin is a wonderful place to holiday and live – you’re welcome to join us anytime.
Denise Cahill is the Head of News at the NT News
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