Hotel guards to give evidence over frontline failings

Security guards will give evidence this week at the inquiry into the hotel quarantine program believed responsible for Victoria’s second wave of the coronavirus.

Army, Navy, Police, Security and coach personnel await passengers at Sydney International Airport. Picture: Monique Harmer

Security guards will give evidence this week at the inquiry into the hotel quarantine program believed responsible for Victoria’s second wave of the coronavirus.

Public hearings begin on Monday, with evidence first up to be given by infectious disease experts at the board of inquiry being overseen by former judge Jennifer Coate.

First to give evidence is Lindsay Grayson, who is the director of infectious diseases at Austin Health, followed by Ben Howden, who is director of The Doherty Institute‘s microbiology diagnostic unit. Victorian Department of Health and Human Service epidemiologist Charles Alpren will give evidence on Tuesday.

From Thursday, returning international travellers who were detained in the program as well as staffers, including security guards, will give evidence.

Reports of poor infection control, including allegations guards had sex with returned travellers, will be examined.

The start of inquiry has been delayed by the introduction of stage-four lockdown restrictions to combat Victoria’s second wave of the coronavirus.

At the last public hearing on August 5, Justice Coate gave Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his fellow ministers the green light to answer questions on the bungled program following weeks of ministers using the probe to dodge questions.

Just hours after her comments, Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos released a written response to parliamentary questions in which she declined to answer questions because of the “judicial inquiry”.

On Sunday, when a reporter asked whether Ms Mikakos would answer questions when parliament sits on Tuesday instead of providing a written response, she said: “I’m very much looking forward to doing that.”

Responsibility for hotel quarantine was transferred from Ms Mikakos to Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy last week, which the Health Minister said was needed to tidy up legal technicalities. “It’s something I’ve been very supportive of because it means that one department can now deal with all of the rules and responsibilities that come with running that program,” she said on Sunday.

On Tuesday, DHHS secretary Kym Peake told a parliamentary inquiry scrutinising the government’s response to the corona­virus pandemic that respon­sibility for the hotel quarantine program belonged to a multi-agency governance body.

A day later, Jobs Minister Martin Pakula said DHHS was responsible for infection control, although he declined to name a responsible minister,

As well, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews triggered a political row between the states and the commonwealth last week when he told the parliamentary inquiry it was incorrect to say there were hundreds of ADF troops on offer to assist with hotel quarantine.