Push to rescind Unified Security’s licence after hotel quarantine debacle

The Andrews government is facing demands to overturn its decision to renew the licence of a security company at the heart of Victoria’s hotel quarantine debacle.

Unified Security was at the centre of the bungled Victorian hotel quarantine scheme. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Andrews government is facing demands to overturn its decision to renew the licence of a security company at the heart of Victoria’s hotel quarantine debacle, as confidential briefing notes reveal the state police chief was warned to check the business background of applicants.

Victoria Police recently renewed the licence of Unified Security, despite an ongoing review of the company’s licence in NSW after an investigation by The Australian revealed it was linked to a string of failed ventures that have gone bankrupt owing taxpayers millions of dollars.

Victoria Police refused to detail why it had renewed the company’s licence, but opposition police spokesman David Southwick slammed the decision.

“Daniel Andrews must explain why the licence of the firm at the centre of Victoria’s second wave has been extended while recommendations to overhaul the private security industry sit on his desk,” he said.

Briefing notes to Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton when he appeared before the public accounts and estimates committee, released under Freedom of Information laws, show he was told a condition of issuing a licence was investigators “be satisfied there are no indicators of illegal phoenixing”.

The Australian has reported several companies linked to Unified Security operators David Millward and Luigi Trunzo collapsed owing millions in unpaid taxes.

These firms, some trading under the name Unified Security, were replaced by others bearing the same name. The Australian is not suggesting any illegal phoenix activity took place.

In minutes of a creditors meeting of a failed business trading as Unified Security, Office of State Revenue representative David Rousseau is noted as being aware of “another ‘Unified Security Group’ ”.

“The chairperson advised this would be investigated, focusing on potential phoenix activity, any transfer of assets and group activity,” the report said.

Evidence to Victoria’s inquiry into the hotel quarantine disaster established that Unified’s guards seeded COVID in the community through a failure to control infection risk and alleged a litany of misbehaviour by guards.