State government advertises new $100,000 jobs to monitor hotel quarantine facilities

Tasmania’s quarantine hotels will be overseen by two highly-paid roles – but some have questioned why the jobs are only being advertised now. See why they’re hiring and the tidy salary >>

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THE state government is recruiting for two new highly-paid roles to help oversee Tasmania’s quarantine hotel facilities, with the Opposition asking why it is happening only now.

The Department of Communities has advertised two site manager positions — one who will be responsible for quarantine hotels in the north and north west, and the other for facilities in the south.

The roles are for full-time day work “commencing ASAP for a period of 6 months”, with annual remuneration between $92,896 and $105,414.

A key part of the job is to work with hotels and security to conduct audits to “identify risks and challenges” and “ensure overall compliance with required standards”.

Labor’s health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell queried the timing of the recruitment.

“It begs the question how compliance with standards has been managed at quarantine hotels to date, and makes it even more important that the government is transparent with the community about the operation of quarantine hotels,’’ she said.

A Department of Communities spokesman said the new roles were not designed to replace current arrangements, but to “complement and enhance” them.

“These roles will also function as a liaison point between hotels/security and the departmental Emergency Operations Centre, providing another avenue to ensure effective and efficient communication,’’ he said.

Best Western Hotel at Hobart. Picture Chris Kidd

The department said no problems had been identified which led to the recruitment.

Three firms — Elite Protective Services, Eagle Security Services and Kevlar Security Services — have been engaged to provide on-site security and manage guest movements when they need to leave their rooms for reasons like exercise breaks, smoking or medical emergencies.

Ms Lovell said the new roles raised questions about the resourcing of the state’s responses to the pandemic.

“What remains of concern is whether other functions related to the pandemic response will be properly resourced, rather than staff being seconded or doing things off the side of their desk,’’ she said.

“That’s what’s happening right now with important activities like COVID testing, screening at border entry points, and staffing of the public health hotline.

“Peter Gutwein says the safety of Tasmanians is his highest priority, and he needs to put his money where his mouth is.”

Seven facilities are currently being used for hotel quarantine across the state — three in the North, two in the South and two in the North West.

As of Tuesday, 124 people were in hotel quarantine in the state’s South, 105 in the North and 77 in the North West.

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