CQV chief Matiu Bush’s Covid-19 breach ‘not significant’

The actions of disgraced health bureaucrat Matiu Bush ‘did not constitute a significant breach’, says the acting minister in charge of Victoria’s hotel quarantine program.

Matiu Bush.

The acting minister in charge of Victoria’s hotel quarantine program says the actions of disgraced health bureaucrat Matiu Bush “did not constitute a significant breach” of infection prevention and control protocol, despite his being stood aside.

Acting Police Minister Danny Pearson’s comments in question time on Thursday come a day after he stood the COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria general manager of infection prevention and control aside in response to The Australian’s publication of CQV documents that revealed Mr Bush had been reported to authorities twice since March, having defied a Defence Force request for a mandatory COVID-19 test and breaching infection-­control protocols.

Asked by Opposition Leader Michael O‘Brien why he had only stood Mr Bush aside after his actions had been made public, Mr Pearson said Mr Bush had done “two things wrong”.

“He did not get a test when he was asked to do so by a member of the ADF at a hotel,” he said.

“What he did, though, is he then went to another hotel, because in a management role he can work across hotels, and he got a test that day. So he was compliant with the rules but he should not have behaved in that way when asked to do so by an ADF member.

“The second issue was that he left a hotel, which was not commissioned, which was not in operation, for a coffee. He came back. He was asked to change his mask and he refused. Now those matters were raised because we have a policy in CQV that if you see something, you say something. That was elevated to the senior management team and Mr Bush at that time was counselled.

“Those matters were not raised with me because they did not constitute a significant breach of infection control protocols.

“The issue was that there was no significant ICP breach. It was brought to my attention, and I felt it was important that in terms of CQV and that management team, they lead from the front and set a good example to the staff.

“I feel the public are entitled to have confidence in this program, and I felt that in this particular case Mr Bush was required to be stood down while we conduct a review in order to work out whether he can improve his behaviour. And that can be determined in due course.”

Asked whether Mr Bush would still be in charge of infection prevention and control in Victoria’s hotel quarantine program had his “flagrant disregard for health rules” not been made public by The Australian, Mr Pearson said: ”Look, all processes have been followed. He was counselled at the time. I took the view that public confidence is vitally important in our program, and action was taken. Mr Bush has been stood down, and the matter is being reviewed.”

Acting Premier James Merlino meanwhile said he had absolute confidence in CQV commissioner Emma Cassar amid calls for her resignation from the opposition.