Coronavirus

[MB78]

Dan facing the inquiry in 10 minutes. Will he back his health minister?

Victoria's Health Minister may have misled hotel quarantine inquiry

Victoria's Health Minister claims she found out private security was being used for the state's hotel quarantine program in late May — more than a month after she stood next to the Minister for Jobs when he confirmed private security guards would be patrolling hotels.

www.abc.net.au

Not sure of the legal ins and outs. But looks to me that’s she is guilty of perjury.

 

[Sintiger]

However, this was the biggest issue at the time. Hotel Quarantine would have been pretty much the most important, if not only, government activity that week. Plus, as they keep reminding us, they only had 2 days to sort out the details. That is when a smart government looks around the cabinet table, looks past the factional dumbf***s who are there for their favours delivered within the party, and finds the competent person and appoints them to run the operation and do whatever it takes to make sure there are no f*** ups - then you appoint a very good minder and a very good advisor to help them. A few smart heads who are willing to haul in or ring the relevant bureaucrats and get answers, to make smart decisions, to question absolutely everything and be across the detail.

Also, remember, they were using how many hotels for this? Was it 2, or more? Can't have been that many. This is not a big enough operation to need many people running it.

DS

There are way too many uses of the words "smart" and "competent" for that to be a reality in government and the bureaucracy (sorry to be cynical)

There were certainly more than two quarantine hotels running at that time but only two caused a problem. Not all of them were run the same way and by the same people.
Hotel quarantine is very complicated, the infection prevention, cleaning, medical support, wellness support etc in big hotels with hundreds of guests is a very big job. Security is just one part of it . You are wrong when you say it didn't need many people running it because it is way more complex than you think, especially in the hotels with COVID positive guests.
I am not defending what happened but don't downplay how hard running quarantine hotels is

 

[DavidSSS]

Victoria's Health Minister may have misled hotel quarantine inquiry

Victoria's Health Minister claims she found out private security was being used for the state's hotel quarantine program in late May — more than a month after she stood next to the Minister for Jobs when he confirmed private security guards would be patrolling hotels.

www.abc.net.au

Not sure of the legal ins and outs. But looks to me that’s she is guilty of perjury.

Bloody hell, she could well be gone, but before she goes she should be sacking her advisors - did they not even check her diary?

Such silliness. They would be better off owning the mistakes, lose a minister or two, weather the damage now, and try and come out of this looking good.

Do none of these people know PR?

Still, the Feds seem to get away with brazening out these things - sports rorts, Tudge etc, so why not Dan and his mates? A lot more pollies, state and Federal, Lib/Nat and Labor should have resigned in disgrace over the last 20 years.

DS

 

[DavidSSS]

There are way too many uses of the words "smart" and "competent" for that to be a reality in government and the bureaucracy (sorry to be cynical)

There were certainly more than two quarantine hotels running at that time but only two caused a problem. Not all of them were run the same way and by the same people.
Hotel quarantine is very complicated, the infection prevention, cleaning, medical support, wellness support etc in big hotels with hundreds of guests is a very big job. Security is just one part of it . You are wrong when you say it didn't need many people running it because it is way more complex than you think, especially in the hotels with COVID positive guests.
I am not defending what happened but don't downplay how hard running quarantine hotels is

To some extent I agree, however, I just don't get why they thought hotels in the middle of the city were a good place for quarantine.

I would have gone for somewhere you really could quarantine people - maybe a convention centre on the edge of the metropolitan area or something. Definitely somewhere with an outside area, the whole idea people could be locked up in a small hotel room for a couple of weeks is an invite to people to try and get out for fresh air or a ciggie.

This shouldn't have been too difficult because there should have been a contingency plan drawn up years ago and updated once a year.

DS

 

[jb03]

Hard to see Mikakos surviving. Although looking at Fed ministers doing as they please not much political accountability these days.

 

[Althom]

So Dan has now said he has no idea who made the decision to use private security in a quarantine role.
Seems no one knows anything and no one knows who did or did not do anything.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

So Dan has now said he has no idea who made the decision to use private security in a quarantine role.
Seems no one knows anything and no one knows who did or did not do anything.

Absolutely laughable. See the restrictions through to the end then *smile* off, Dan.

 

[Sintiger]

To some extent I agree, however, I just don't get why they thought hotels in the middle of the city were a good place for quarantine.

I would have gone for somewhere you really could quarantine people - maybe a convention centre on the edge of the metropolitan area or something. Definitely somewhere with an outside area, the whole idea people could be locked up in a small hotel room for a couple of weeks is an invite to people to try and get out for fresh air or a ciggie.

This shouldn't have been too difficult because there should have been a contingency plan drawn up years ago and updated once a year.

DS

The fact there was no detailed pandemic plan was reported ages ago. There wasn’t one of any real use anywhere btw, not just in Victoria. Pandemics are largely a medical and scientific response and our emergency management personnel and plans are more suited to things like bushfires etc.
The hotels were not sequested, the hotel owners and management had to agree and still do. We need to remember that at the time the fact this would go on so long was not what people thought.
Convention centres were earmarked for potential hospital overflows then, like what was done in other countries, thankfully we didn’t need them.
I agree hotels with rooms with an open area like a balcony would be better but unfortunately that’s not the way most hotels are built these days.

 

[caesar]

So Dan has now said he has no idea who made the decision to use private security in a quarantine role.
Seems no one knows anything and no one knows who did or did not do anything.

They should have all just pleaded the 5th and saved the time and money, enquiry a disgrace or at least many of those appearing at it are.

 

[IanG]

So Dan has now said he has no idea who made the decision to use private security in a quarantine role.
Seems no one knows anything and no one knows who did or did not do anything.

Well he did make the point that he tried to find out then established the enquiry for that very reason. There was an interesting back and forth about collective decision making, which is probably along the lines of what happened and is along the lines of what Sin and I referred to yesterday. Andrews acknowledged this wasn't acceptable.

 

[MD Jazz]

Inquiry revealing that The State Controller Health had operational accountability for quarantine accommodation of returned travellers.

Attached is a photo of the organisational structure and the roles and responsibilities that was presented at the inquiry.

And it should have been the Chief Health Officer who performed the role of State Controller Health. But in this case it was not Dr Sutton who was given that role. It was someone else.

Andrews answering all questions honestly (i think) and its clear he had little to no actual control or influence over the quarantine program. (so far).

 

[MD Jazz]

They should have just all just pleaded the 5th and saved the time and money, enquiry a disgrace or at least many of those appearing at it are.

Yeh, but on the surface Dan & Brett really haven't done anything wrong. The structure of the response almost precluded them from being accountable. Hopefully the outcome is that something like this doesn't happen again and bureaucracy doesn't inhibit a proper response to future emergency situations.

 

[MD Jazz]

Just watching more of the interview with Dan now:

Chris Eccles comes out very poorly. Not making anyone in VIC gov't aware of the the offer of ADF personnel from Federal gov't to assist VIC - 8th Apr 2020 is the date.

Chris Eccles is the Secretary - Department of Premier & Cabinet, VIC.

Dan stating the National cabinet meeting never gave him the idea that ADF personnel were going to be offered to VIC. And that Chris never raised it.

It was only subsequently discussed or raised again in June 2020. But Dan doesn't recall discussing hotel quarantine with the prime minister at this time. He can't remember talking with the prime minister about it.

 

[MD Jazz]

There was a request made in June for 850 DF personnel. This is after the outbreaks had occurred. They were looking at resetting the program. But ultimately decided to reset with a different workforce.

Rachel Ellyard did note the ADF personnel were being offered at no cost!!!!

The decision to chose private security initially - no one has claimed ownership of the decision yet at this inquiry. And Dan said he doesn't know who made the decision. And he said it was the reason he setup the inquiry. And so far it has not been able to nail who ultimately made the decision.

Talk of collective governance & decision making.

Dan saying that does not remove accountability. But he doesn't know who made the decision.

Pretty poor. They cannot even identify who was part of the collective. Rachel saying it is alarming that no one who is part of a collective knows they were part of the decision.

She called (the process of the decision to go with private security) a creeping assumption that formed amongst a group.Wow.

 

[MD Jazz]

Themes emerging of a lack of common understanding.

Differing views about who was responsible for the program. Evidence given it was DHSS who was in charge. Jenny saying it was a shared accountability.

Dan saying DHSS and Mikakos from 8th April until reset.

Some procurement of hotels led by Dept of Jobs Precincts (Pakula).

Its really showing that Mikakos & DHSS have stuffed it up. But it hasn't been Dan's finest hour either.

 

[Althom]

Just watching more of the interview with Dan now:

Chris Eccles comes out very poorly. Not making anyone in VIC gov't aware of the the offer of ADF personnel from Federal gov't to assist VIC - 8th Apr 2020 is the date.

Chris Eccles is the Secretary - Department of Premier & Cabinet, VIC.

Dan stating the National cabinet meeting never gave him the idea that ADF personnel were going to be offered to VIC. And that Chris never raised it.

It was only subsequently discussed or raised again in June 2020. But Dan doesn't recall discussing hotel quarantine with the prime minister at this time. He can't remember talking with the prime minister about it.

So Dan's own Department don't tell him what they are doing?
Maybe because it appears Dan has a faulty memory and there's no point to doing so?

 

[MD Jazz]

Rachel pointing out giving the gravity of the situation there shouldn't be any confusion about the whole management of the covid response.

Assumptions of risks and responsibilities that were being managed by the gov't.

Rachel highlighting the presence of confusion at multiple levels. Multiple departments have been represented separately in this inquiry - that itself speaks to their being different views and confusion. Dan agreed to this assumption.

 

[MD Jazz]

I'd encourage anyone to watch the interview.

HQI

 

[MB78]

Andrews says Mikakos was responsible for hotel quarantine, but he's unsure who chose to use private guards

Premier Daniel Andrews echoes his colleagues by telling the inquiry into hotel quarantine that he doesn't know who decided to use private security guards instead of ADF or police — and he says his Health Minister was ultimately responsible for the scheme

www.abc.net.au

Another good summary. The health minister needs to be sacked.

 

[Sintiger]

Andrews says Mikakos was responsible for hotel quarantine, but he's unsure who chose to use private guards

Premier Daniel Andrews echoes his colleagues by telling the inquiry into hotel quarantine that he doesn't know who decided to use private security guards instead of ADF or police — and he says his Health Minister was ultimately responsible for the scheme

www.abc.net.au

Another good summary. The health minister needs to be sacked.

You won’t get many people around the sector complaining if she does.