An idea for Daniel Andrews: use people who know what they’re doing

Jennifer Coate’s interim report represents not just a quarantine blueprint for the COVID-19 era, but a repudiation of the Andrews government’s original hotel quarantine model.

Like the George Costanza character in Seinfeld, the ­government is being told the key to success is to essentially do the opposite of what happened ­during the frantic stages of the scheme’s establishment in March.

Implementing the proposed two-tier model will be costly, building on the $195m taxpayers have so far been billed for the mismanaged scheme. But it is difficult to see the government resisting, given the program’s contribution to the state’s second wave and resultant death toll.

Coate implicitly rejects the buck-passing “shared accountability” mantra that so infuriatingly littered the evidence of ministers and senior bureaucrats to the inquiry. She recommends one cabinet-approved department and minister be accountable for the program.

A new quarantine governing body, whose members would have clearly defined roles with the necessary expertise, would provide regular, timely and accurate reports to the minister about the operation of the quarantine program across all sites, including full and accurate information about compliance, monitoring and risks.

That such recommendations are deemed necessary is an ­indictment on how the scheme was allowed to operate in its first months. As there are no purpose-built quarantine facilities in Victoria, Coate proposes the continued use of hotels as well as a home-based model.

Her hotel model is designed to prevent a repeat of calamitous containment breaches by installing a dedicated salaried workforce consisting of 21 different roles, including a contact tracing unit, at each facility.

Coate notes the majority of staff currently at quarantine ­hotels are corrections officers, and Victoria Police have had a 24/7 presence since July.

While the proposed model does not explicitly rule out the ­future engagement of private ­security guards, adopting her proposal for salaried staff with appropriate leave entitlements would likely significantly restrict their use, given their ranks are dominated by casual, insecure employment.

To enhance home quarantine compliance, Coate urges the government consider electronic monitoring using smartphone technology and, more controversially, ankle or wrist monitoring systems.

Her recommendations are comprehensive, designed to ensure the government does not repeat its mistakes. Of course, what is yet to come is her final report examining the decisions and ­actions taken in establishing and operating the bungled scheme.

Due to the emergence of significant material after the conclusion of the inquiry’s hearings, these findings and recommendations are now due by December 21. Meanwhile, Daniel Andrews will on Sunday announce a further easing of restrictions.

Throughout the months of lockdown as case numbers and deaths progressively fell, the hotel quarantine inquiry has been a competing narrative to the Premier’s daily briefings.

The consecutive days of zero cases and no deaths has been a remarkable achievement but as Victorians prepare to enjoy more freedom, it remains vital that those responsible for the quarantine fiasco are held accountable.