Coronavirus: Hotel quarantine probe at risk of delay

Senior figures may postpone hotel quarantine inquiry because of state of disaster ­declared by Daniel Andrews.

The Rydges on Swanston hotel in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Victoria’s inquiry into the hotel quarantine fiasco may be delayed because of the state of disaster ­declared by Premier Daniel ­Andrews.

The Australian has confirmed that senior figures associated with the board of inquiry are considering postponing Thursday’s opening into the bungled quarantine program that is suspected of igniting Victoria’s deadly second coronavirus wave.

In a statement released on Tuesday night, the board of ­inquiry said: “There will be an ­extraordinary sitting of the inquiry to advise of the impact of the ­declaration of the state of disaster and the move to stage-four restrictions on the conduct of the ­inquiry.”

The emergency sitting of the inquiry, which is being held before former judge Jennifer Coate, will be held on Wednesday to ­announce a decision on timing.

There is a view within the board of inquiry the opening has to be ­delayed because of tighter restrictions coming into force at midnight on Wednesday.

It is believed any delay could push its opening back by at least a week, while the logistics to hold the inquiry remotely are set up. Any delay will spark a political storm, as the inquiry is already facing criticism that it does not have enough power.

The Australian can also reveal returning travellers were allowed to leave COVID-19 hotspot quarantine hotels in Melbourne after mental health professionals were called to their rooms to deal with extreme disturbance.

The travellers were meant to spend 14 days under strict quarantine, but The Australian has been told at least one traveller was ­released on mental health grounds after “completely losing it”.

The Australian revealed on Tuesday that poorly trained guards at Rydges on Swanston Street had been daunted by the ­behaviour of some guests on the so-called “crazy floor” of the hotel, with a fellow guest saying travellers screamed, cried and ­demanded to be let out. “One of them definitely got out,” the guest said, although it wasn’t clear for how long.

The hotel quarantine program is under pressure nationwide, with more than 5000 people signing a petition that points out what is ­describes as “the stupidity” of forcing mostly healthy expatriate Australians into quarantine while confirmed COVID-19 patients are allowed to self-isolate.

“If you test positive to COVID while living your normal life in Australia, you are allowed to self-isolate at home unsupervised,” says one comment on the Hotel Quarantine page on Facebook.

“To be clear: they are 100% confirmed cases. If you are a ­returned traveller, you are likely not to be infected but you will be locked up.”

They also query why “some people will now receive $1500 to self-isolate” in Victoria on the grounds they are sick, and the state government does not want them to go to work.

“In contrast, incoming Australians (who are not confirmed sick) are compelled to fork out several thousand of their own dollars for a prolonged incarceration.”

More than 70,000 Australian citizens have been forced into hotel quarantine since the border closure. Those who arrived after July 25 are being charged about $3000 for their stay. The quarantine measure is believed to have saved tens of thousands of lives by preventing COVID-19 transmission into the community.

Exemptions can be granted, but only in rare circumstances. ­“Exemptions are rare due to the high risk of not quarantining,” says the Victorian’s government’s health and human services site. “They are only considered where there are strong medical, health or compassionate grounds.”

Facebook hums with advice for those hoping for an exemption from quarantine. “If you do apply, apply early. They are getting over 1000 applications a day,” says one comment.

Exemptions on mental health grounds require documentation from a psychiatrist or health ­professional.

One family questioned ­whether exemptions were being handed out fairly. “Our son and partner — a gay couple ­returning home with their second surrogacy baby — were told when they arrived here someone made a mistake and you are in hotel quarantine … was it an overzealous homophobe who made the ­decision?”

The petition says travellers are actually at risk of infection in the quarantine hotels. “Cleanliness is haphazard, and rooms are not ­always properly cleaned before new arrivals,” it says.