During last week’s parliamentary inquiry, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews explicitly denied that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) was offered for use in the state’s hotel quarantine program:
Liberal MP: “So my question is: Why did you choose to use private security guards rather than police or ADF?:
Dan Andrews: “I’m glad you mentioned the use of ADF. I don’t believe ADF support was on offer. ADF support has been provided in very limited circumstances in NSW. Not to provide security as such, but to provide transportation from the airport to hotels. So again, I think it is fundamentally incorrect to assert that their was hundreds of ADF staff on offer, and somehow someone said no”.
This came despite Andrews advising in March (here and here) that he would use ADF personnel to conduct hotel quarantine.
Soon after Andrews’ testimony, Australian Defence Minister, Linda Reynolds, issued a strongly worded press released stating that ADF personnel were offered but rejected by the Victorian Government.
Yesterday, A senior ADF official gave testimony stating that the offer of hundreds of military personnel for quarantine was “made plain” to all states:
…at a separate inquiry in Canberra, the commander of the ADF coronavirus taskforce pushed back on suggestions that the military did not offer to help Victoria manage its hotel quarantine regime.
Lieutenant General John Frewen has now told the Senate’s COVID-19 committee that similar offers of support were made to all states and territories after the Prime Minister’s announcement on March 27.
He said it was “made plain” that ADF help “would be made available to all the states and territories to help with whatever arrangements were put in place for quarantine and quarantine enforcement”.
“The offers to the states and territories were the same,” he said.
NSW and Queensland took up the offer of ADF help for hotel quarantine, with about 360 and 100 personnel deployed respectively. There were 100 on standby for Victoria if they required it…
Lieutenant General Frewen said the ADF had been involved in a broad range of tasks, from baggage handling to concierge-type roles in hotel lobbies.
“We have worked in hotels in support of police. It’s important to note that the ADF do not have any law enforcement authorities and we must work in support of law enforcement agencies around ensuring quarantine requirements are met,” he said.
“We have been involved in checking people are not trying to sneak out of the hotel or people are not trying to sneak into the hotel,” he said, adding any breaches were immediately referred to police.
Once again, Dan Andrews has been loose with the truth.
Isn’t the punishment for misleading parliament forced resignation?
