With three epidemiologists and genomic sequencing experts scheduled to appear today, the judicial inquiry into Melbourne’s botched hotel quarantine disaster was conveniently delayed by six weeks:
The inquiry into what went wrong in Victoria’s hotel quarantine program has been delayed due to the state’s coronavirus crisis.
The board of inquiry, headed by former Family Court judge Jennifer Coate, was due to start hearing evidence tomorrow [Thursday], but this has now been postponed until August 17.
It was originally due to report by September 25, but will now report in November.
It has been 45 long days since Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews first announced the judicial inquiry. And throughout that period, Andrews and his ministers have refused to answer questions about what went wrong nor their role in the debacle. Instead, they have used the convenient excuse that it is inappropriate to comment on a case before a judicial inquiry.
Accordingly, Victorians – now effectively living under months of martial law – have been completely left in the dark as to the causes of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Far from providing answers, this judicial inquiry is being used to withhold information from the public and to shield the state government from political backlash.
As a counter point, consider NSW Premier Gladys Gladys Berejiklian’s handling of the Ruby Princess debacle. Berejiklian immediately called for a judicial inquiry and had witnesses answering questions on live television within only seven days.
Thankfully, retired judge Jennifer Coate – who is leading the hotel quarantine inquiry – told the Andrews Government yesterday that there is nothing stopping it from releasing information to the public:
Premier Daniel Andrews and his ministers have repeatedly refused to answer questions on the quarantine program, saying it is not appropriate for them to do so while an inquiry is ongoing.
However, Justice Coate has said there is nothing preventing the Premier or ministers answering questions about the quarantine program.
“This board of inquiry is not a court,” Justice Coate said on Wednesday.
“Under law, unlike a court, there is no general restriction or prohibition, which would prevent a person from commenting publicly or answering questions to which they know the answers on matters which are the subject of examination by this board of inquiry.”
It is time for Premier Daniel Andrews and his ministers to stop hiding behind the judicial inquiry and to answer questions about hotel quarantine.
The Victorian Government must also release the genomic sequencing data from the Doherty Institute, which traces the exact route of the spread of the virus.
Victorians deserve answers, not obfuscation.
