Daniel Andrews again caught out in row over Kiwis’ arrival

Victoria’s health department told Tullamarine Airport Border Force officials it knew a group of New Zealanders were headed into the state hours before they arrived.

An AFP K-9 conducts drug screening operations at Tullarmaine Airport in Melbourne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Victoria’s health department told Australian Border Force officials at Tullamarine Airport it knew a group of New Zealand travellers was headed into the state hours before its arrival and Premier Daniel Andrews was informed.

On the weekend, Mr Andrews blasted the arrival of at least 17 New Zealanders in his lock-downed state, saying they should not have been allowed into Melbourne given he had expressly rejected the travel bubble with NZ.

In emails seen by The Australian, senior Border Force officials noted they had a meeting with Victorian Health Department officials at 2pm on Friday in which one leading health officer said the New Zealanders were due to arrive that night.

Mr Andrews was not informed until later that evening.

On Sunday, Mr Andrews moved back on threats to close the Victorian border completely over the issue.

“We made it clear we do not want international arrivals regardless of what country they come from into our state unless they quarantine,” he said. “International borders are not the responsibility of the state government and what happens in Sydney is not the responsibility of our state government.”

The emails detailing the minutes of the Friday meeting show health officials in Melbourne told Border Force officials they knew the New Zealanders were coming and escalated the situation.

The passengers were briefly detained at Melbourne Airport and let go because health officials had no power to detain them. The Victorian health department and Mr Andrews’ office were approached for comment.

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge demanded the Victorian government release any communications suggesting it did not want New Zealanders to enter if they had come via Sydney.

He said on Sunday the arrival of the New Zealanders in Victoria was discussed by chief medical officers – including Victoria’s Brett Sutton – and noted reports in The Age newspaper that the Premier’s own department had approved the entries.

“The Victorian government was present when it was discussed. They were made aware that this was going to occur. They raised no objections in the meetings and, furthermore, expressly authorised individuals who were arriving into Sydney from New Zealand to be able to travel on into Victoria,” Mr Tudge said.

“It is not surprising they would give such authorisation because the risks are so low, given that the 14-day rolling average of … cases in New Zealand is precisely zero. That is, there is no community transmission in New Zealand.”