Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has told the inquiry into the state's hotel quarantine scheme that Health Minister Jenny Mikakos was responsible for the failed program, but he's sorry for the unacceptable mistakes that were made.
Key points:
- Premier Daniel Andrews told the inquiry he did not know who made the decision to hire private security guards
- He said he expected it was a mix of different personnel but that it was an "operational matter"
- Mr Andrews also said he did not understand the extent of ADF support on offer from the Prime Minister
Mr Andrews used his long-awaited appearance at the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry to issue a public apology for the scheme's failures.
"I want to make it very clear to each and every member of the Victorian community that I am sorry for what has occurred here, and I want to issue an unreserved apology to all Victorians," he said.
In his written statement, Mr Andrews said Ms Mikakos was in charge of the program following a cabinet meeting on April 8. Earlier, she shared responsibility with Jobs Minister Martin Pakula.
"I then regarded Minister Mikakos as accountable for the Program. The CCC (Crisis Council of Cabinet) was provided with regular reports by Minister Mikakos containing data relevant to Victoria's response to the public health emergency," he said.
Ms Mikakos told the inquiry her department was not solely responsible for the program, known as Operation Soteria.
The Premier also said he was unaware of who made the critical decision to use private security guards as the first line of defence at the hotels.
"After National Cabinet made its decision, I expected that there would be a mix of different personnel playing different roles in the Program, including members of Victoria Police."
The question of why private security guards were used at the quarantine hotels, instead of ADF personnel or police, has been central to the inquiry's lines of questioning.
Mr Andrews joins Ms Mikakos, Mr Pakula and Police Minister Lisa Neville in telling the inquiry he does not know who made that decision.
Mr Andrews said his understanding from National Cabinet was that Australian Defence Force (ADF) support would be available where most needed among states.
The Premier said Prime Minister Scott Morrison's comments at a press conference on March 27 advanced a "more generous position" regarding ADF support than had earlier been indicated.
"Later, in my press conference, I acknowledged that gesture, but I did not see that it necessarily changed what had been settled in National Cabinet. I was not aware of any other offer of ADF personnel for the operation of the Program at its inception."
Decision to hire private security could have just been a 'series of assumptions'
Mr Andrews appeared most frustrated when being quizzed on the program's lines of accountability.
"It's alarming here, isn't it, to the extent it was a collective decision, no-one seems to know that they were part of it?" Ms Ellyard said.
"Yes, it's very disappointing," the Premier replied. "My understanding of collective decision-making does not remove accountability."
Ms Ellyard then questioned the Premier on private security, saying that it appeared the decision to engage contractors could have actually been a "creeping assumption".
Andrews says he was not made aware of critical email
Mr Andrews said he was not made aware of an email sent by Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Phil Gaetjens to Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Chris Eccles.
In the April 8 email, Mr Gaetjens wrote: "The only deal with NSW was in-kind provision of ADF personnel.
Mr Andrews claims neither the email nor the information was ever passed on to him.
"Would you have expected this to be drawn to your attention?" Ms Ellyard asked.
"Yes," Mr Andrews said.
"Given that it's so at odds with what I took away from the National Cabinet meeting, I think it would have been very significant to me.
"I can't predict what outcome it might have had, but I certainly would have wanted to know."
Premier says operational decisions made by State Control Centre
When asked by counsel assisting the inquiry, Rachel Ellyard, whether he was involved in the design of the program, Mr Andrew said it was a "deeply operational matter that would not be determined by my office or my department".
"The way in which that policy was implemented in Victoria, including what kind, or kinds, of facilities would be used to accommodate quarantined travellers, was an operational matter, to be coordinated and overseen by the SCC (State Control Centre)," he said.
"That is similarly so in the management of other disasters. For example, I have no role in determining the mix of staff and allocation of tasks during a catastrophic bushfire event."
Mr Andrews's early evidence focused on the days leading up to the establishment of the quarantine program.
He said not mandating compulsory quarantine for returned travellers posed too much risk to the community.
"In my judgement, very serious risk, perhaps an unacceptable risk for community transmission," he said.
More to come.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA5LTI1L3ZpY3RvcmlhLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWhvdGVsLXF1YXJhbnRpbmUtaW5xdWlyeS1kYW5pZWwtYW5kcmV3cy8xMjcwNDExNtIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjcwNDExNg?oc=5
2020-09-25 05:19:00Z
52781078370124
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews tells COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry that Jenny Mikakos was responsible for scheme - ABC News"
Post a Comment