NSW Health, police in standoff over virus patient data

NSW Police were refused access to the NSW Health Department’s list of quarantined COVID-19 patients.

Police patrol Sydney’s CBD today. Picture: Matrix

NSW Police were refused access to the NSW Health Department’s list of quarantined COVID-19 patients, prompting a standoff between the two agencies and ministerial intervention to force them to co-operate.

The impasse was resolved on Thursday afternoon; NSW Health issued a statement saying it had handed over the list of patients per an order gazetted by the government that morning.

The NSW Police Minister had earlier been forced to intervene in the dispute when NSW Health refused to share its list of quarantined patients; police wanted the names to begin monitoring efforts to ensure each person was abiding by their mandated self-isolation period.

NSW Health manages the list of COVID-19 patients, including those ordered to self-isolate at home. Previously, police officers were asked to call a hotline and provide the names of specific individuals if they wanted to learn more about their quarantine status.

Police Patol Sydney CBD during COVID-19 Stage Two Restrictions

Officers argued that this method of enforcement was both ineffective and cumbersome.

In response to questions, the NSW Police Force said the organisation was “working with NSW Health to ensure police officers can readily access the information required to monitor compliance with, and enforce, the Minister’s directions.”

NSW Health said in a statement that it had provided NSW Police with “information on current quarantined COVID-19 patients in NSW”.

NSW Police Minister David Elliott.

“The Minister for Health issued an Order under the Public Health that allows all NSW government agencies to share any information where this is considered necessary for the purposes of protecting the health or welfare of members of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The order was made on 25 March and commenced operation today.”

The standoff attracted the attention of the NSW Government after it was raised with the Premier by Wollondilly MP Nathaniel Smith during Tuesday’s NSW coalition partyroom meeting. Mr Smith declined to comment when contacted.

Police Minister David Elliott is understood to have been angered by the situation, and on Thursday was in the process of working through a solution.

Mr Elliott was approached for comment.

“We asked how we would know who’s on the list, and they said: ‘Just call us and ask’,” a NSW law enforcement official said. “Operationally, we need the list of people in order to make it work.”

As cases of infection increase across NSW, law enforcement powers have steadily expanded in kind.

Breaches of social distancing measures are now punishable by on the spot fines of $1,000. The punishment for breaching self-isolation attracts a steeper penalty of an $11,000 fine and/or six months’ imprisonment.

Discussions are continuing among various police commissioners nationwide as to how community members should be monitored when lockdowns are put in force, considered by some to be an inevitability. This includes whether harvesting of metadata to trace and monitor their steps in real time can be used as a strategy.