Coronavirus: Soldiers left waiting after offers to help with hotels
At least 100 defence personnel were ready to assist at Victoria’s quarantine hotels but were not deployed, Defence records show.
At least 100 defence force personnel were ready to enforce compliance at Victoria’s quarantine hotels but were not deployed to assist with the bungled program now blamed for fuelling the state’s deadly second wave of COVID-19, Defence Department records show.
A timeline of engagement between Defence headquarters and six ADF liaison officers stationed at Emergency Management Victoria from March 21 shows the officers repeatedly conveyed that authorities in the state would not be taking up the kind of ADF assistance with hotel quarantine that was rendered in NSW and Queensland.
The records contradict the version of events conveyed on Wednesday by Premier Daniel Andrews and his Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp, who says he neither sought nor was offered ADF assistance with the hotel quarantine program during crucial planning meetings on March 27 and 28.
The discrepancy emerged as The Australian established that no Andrews government ministers, nor any ministerial staff, were present at a March 27 meeting of multiple agencies chaired by Mr Crisp, at which the decision was made to engage private security guards rather than ADF personnel or police to ensure compliance in hotel quarantine.
The revelation prompts questions over chains of command and accountability for a scheme that Mr Andrews has conceded is to blame for “at least a significant proportion” if not all of Victoria‘s second wave of coronavirus cases, which has led to a crippling stage four lockdown and the deaths of 247 people.
A record 21 coronavirus deaths on Wednesday brought the state’s toll from the virus to 267, all but 20 of which have occurred since July 5. There were 410 new cases in the 24 hours to Wednesday, which combined with the deaths and a high number of recoveries led to the number of active cases falling for the first time in more than two months, down three to 7877.
The Defence timeline shows the six ADF liaison officers, known as “Joint Task Group 629.2”, were appointed with the job of conveying messages between Victorian authorities and the ADF. The day after their appointment, on March 22, Brigadier Matt Burr was given the role of Joint Task Group commander, meeting at least twice weekly with Mr Crisp ever since.
On March 27, when Scott Morrison announced national cabinet had agreed on mandatory hotel quarantine for international arrivals, Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell issued orders to deploy 100 ADF personnel in each large state.
Mr Andrews’ press release on the same day stated that it had “been agreed that the Australian Defence Force will be engaged to support the implementation of these arrangements”.
Emergency Management Victoria began planning for hotel quarantine in the state during meetings on March 27 and 28, which were attended by the ADF liaison officers, as well as members of an ADF team engaged in planning for hotel quarantine arrangements and senior bureaucrats at EMV.
ADF Joint Task Group 629.2 communicated to Canberra following this round of meetings that “Victoria Police is well advanced in the planning and preparation to execute their quarantine compliance. However, this presently does not include ADF involvement.”
Like the ADF, Victoria Police was not ultimately given a hands-on role inside quarantine hotels.
Victoria’s parliamentary accounts and estimates committee heard from state Jobs, Precincts and Regions secretary Simon Phemister on Wednesday that the decision to engage private security guards in hotel quarantine was made in a “very pivotal meeting” between multiple agencies chaired by Mr Crisp on March 27.
After a war of words broke out between Mr Andrews and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds on Tuesday, Mr Crisp said on Wednesday that the ADF was “involved in the initial planning of the hotel quarantine program”.
“Representatives of the ADF participated in the Operation Soteria planning and co-ordination meetings on 27 and 28 March 2020,” Mr Crisp said.
“During these discussions I did not seek nor did representatives of the ADF offer assistance as part of the hotel quarantine program.
“Subsequent communications with the ADF on the 12th and 15th of April did not relate to ADF assistance as part of the program.”
Defence records show EMV submitted a request for assistance from the ADF on March 29, but this did not include quarantine assistance at hotels.
On March 31, the leader of the ADF’s COVID-19 response, Major General Paul Kenny, held a phone hook-up with state and territory police commissioners to provide an update on what the joint taskforce was doing to support each state and territory.
ADF Joint Task Group 629.2’s report to Canberra following this conversation said there “continues to be no request for ADF assistance in the execution of hotel quarantine”. On April 17, the group reported that although Victoria’s ability to accept returning Australians from overseas was nearing planned capacity of about 4000, “there are presently no indicators that ADF assistance will be requested in the near term.”
Mr Andrews disputed Senator Reynolds’ claim, backed up by Defence Department records on Wednesday, that “hundreds of ADF staff” had been available to assist with hotel quarantine.
“No, no, let’s be clear about this,” Mr Andrews said. The Defence Minister yesterday decided that she would issue a statement … It made a number of claims. Andrew Crisp issued a statement that I think is at odds with that. For my purposes, that clears the matter up. I don’t know the federal Defence Minister. I don’t deal with her. I deal with the Prime Minister. I do know Andrew Crisp … I’d direct you to the very clear statement that he’s issued. It has been consistently put to me that me or others have consistently said no to help. That’s simply wrong.”
Mr Crisp’s statement did not address his June 24 request for “personnel augmentation and assistance for (the) Victorian Department of Health and Human Services in the mandatory quarantine of individuals who have returned from overseas”, in the form of 850 troops. The following day, he rescinded this request in an email to Emergency Management Australia.
In his June 24 request, Mr Crisp said EMV had “exhausted internal or contract sources across emergency agencies to fulfil these roles”.
He added: “ADF personnel in other states have proven to be uniquely suited to roles and functions being carried out within the current environment”.
IN A TANGLE OVER TROOPS
MARCH 21
Six senior ADF liaison officers appointed within Emergency Management Victoria. Their role was to speak with Victorian authorities and feed that back to ADF.
MARCH 22
Brigadier Matt Burr appointed Joint Task Group commander. Has had twice-weekly engagament, if not more often, with EMV chief Andrew Crisp
MARCH 27
Scott Morrison announces mandatory quarantine for international arrivals. On that day Chief of Defence Force Angus Campbell issues orders to deploy 100 ADF personnel in each large state. Premier Daniel Andrews issues a press release, stating: “Been agreed that ADF will engage in support.”
MARCH 27-28
EMV starts planning for hotel quarantine in Victoria. Both EMV and senior ADF liaison officers, as well as members from the ADF planning team, engaged in planning for hotel quarantine arrangements. Defence joint task group 629.2 communicates to Canberra that it is standing ready to assist: “Victoria Police is well advanced in the planning and preparation to execute their quarantine compliance. However, this presently does not include ADF involvement.”
MARCH 29
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds issues press release reaffirming that ADF stands ready to assist all states at short notice. EMV submits a request for assistance, but it does not include quarantine compliance at hotels. ADF personnel report back to HQ that Victoria Police senior leadership said the situation at Melbourne Airport is “calm and ongoing” and ADF support on quarantine matters is not required at present. ADF assistance at hotels is not discussed. MARCH 30
Brief given to Defence Minister for CDF, which recommended she waive the cost of all quarantine compliance support.
MARCH 31
Major General Paul Kenny, who leads the taskforce, has a dial-in with state and territory police commissioners in which he provides an update on what the joint taskforce is doing to support each state and territory. This includes the ADF support to Qld and NSW with their hotel quarantine. (In NSW this includes ferrying to and from airports, but also ensuring compliance with quarantine, monitoring what people are doing and reporting back to police.) ADF report says EMV says its management of international arrivals into Victoria had been progressing well. ADF report says there continues to be no request for ADF assistance in the execution of hotel quarantine.
APRIL 2
ADF provides five personnel to Victoria Police to conduct quarantine compliance monitoring.
APRIL 17
Victoria’s ability to accept returning Australians from overseas is nearing planned capacity of about 4000. Despite this, there are no indicators that ADF assistance will be requested in the near term. “We’ll keep a close watch on this space,” ADF records state.
MAY 14
Major General Paul Kenny visits Victoria. Meets senior authorities including Deputy Commissioner of Victoria Police and Crisp. During these discussions the Victorian authorities indicate that the situation in Victoria has improved to such an extent that it is unlikely that they will need further ADF support except planners inside EMV. Deputy commissioner and EMV commissioner say “things are going well, we won’t need further help”.
JUNE 24
Crisp submits request to Emergency Management Australia for 850 ADF personnel to provide “compliance and monitoring support to DHHS”. JUNE 25 Crisp emails EMA to say EMV no longer wishes to proceed with the request “due to changing operational and resourcing requirements”.
ANDREW CRISP’S VERSION OF EVENTS
“The Australian Defence Force (ADF) were involved in the initial planning of the hotel quarantine program.” “Representatives of the ADF participated in the Operation Soteria planning and coordination meetings on 27 and 28 March 2020. During these discussions I did not seek nor did representatives of the ADF offer assistance as part of the hotel quarantine program.” “Subsequent communications with the ADF on the 12th and 15th of April did not relate to ADF assistance as part of the program.”
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