Coronavirus Victoria: ADF aid spurned as they were ‘logisticians, not infantry men’

Victorian bureaucrats planning hotel quarantine were confused over the the role the Australian Defence Force would play in enforcing the regime.

A security guard was removed from the Crowne Plaza quarantine hotel after slipping an inappropriate note under a guest’s door, an inquiry has heard. Picture: Supplied

Victorian bureaucrats planning hotel quarantine were confused over the the role the Australian Defence Force would play in enforcing the regime, according to internal communication released by the hotel quarantine inquiry.

The newly released documents come as public servant Claire Febey told the inquiry Victoria Police had an “absolute preference” private security companies should be used instead of police officers to enforce quarantine.

Public servants considered ADF enforcing security in the hotel quarantine program unsuitable because troops already in Victoria were “logisticians” instead of “infantry men”, according to messages between a team working to establish the hotel quarantine program from Victoria’s Department of Justice, Regions and Precincts.

“Hi all, called [redacted] on the ADF role question after the Q&A confusion - ABC has published ADF will have role nationally but [redacted] advised this might not apply in a Victorian context, as ADF presence here is more logisticians than infantry men that would be suitable for security, which would explain why as a state we rely more on Vic Pol [Victoria Police] and private security],” said the Slack message.

The message was sent on March 27 at 8.23pm, just hours after a meeting between multiple government agencies in which the hotel quarantine plan was signed off.

A message in response sent a few minutes later said: “Apparently on 4.30pm telecon with [redacted] with Assistant Commissioner [redacted] said there would be no boots on the ground ADF support in Victoria.

“They are happy to accept ADF’s assistance in terms of advice and logistics, but want to avoid military presence except in the case of a terrorist threat and would prefer to rely on VicPol.”

On Thursday, Ms Febey told the inquiry she learnt National Cabinet had agreed on hotel quarantine hours at around 12.30pm on March 27 before the plan was announced by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at 3pm.

Ms Febey’s notes of the conversation said DJPR secretary Simon Phemister would contact then Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton to discuss security for hotel quarantine.

“They [guests] need to be safe but need to stay where they are [hotel quarantine],” the note said.

“Simon will call Graham Ashton … Need a regime that makes sure they adhere to their quarantine program.”

Ms Febey’s statement to the commission includes a transcript of a meeting between agencies that was chaired by Emergency Management Victoria Commissioner Andrew Crisp.

Mr Crisp said in the meeting: “I understand the preference of Victoria Police, or the Chief Commissioner, is that private security be the first line of security and then police to response [sic] as required. Is that your understanding Mick?”

Assistant Commissioner Grainger replies: “Yes, it’s Mick Grainger here. Absolutely that’s our preference.”