Andrews must name ministers responsible for hotel quarantine

In response to questioning on Hotel Quarantine at today’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearing, WorkSafe CEO Colin Radford revealed that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) are being investigated for breaches of workplace safety.

Mr Radford also revealed that WorkSafe have made more than 850 visits and issued close to 200 notices to high risk businesses relating to COVID-related matters.

It has already been established, and confirmed by the Attorney-General, that ministers of the Crown are subject to penalties for breaches of workplace safety, including charges of workplace manslaughter.

But despite today’s revelations about investigations into DHHS and DJPR, Premier Andrews and Attorney-General Hennessy continue to obfuscate and refuse to name the ministers responsible.

The public will have no confidence in inquiries into hotel quarantine so long as the lines of accountability remain unclear.

Time is up. Premier Daniel Andrews has run out of excuses and must name the ministers responsible for the hotel quarantine debacle.

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Workplace Safety, Nick Wakeling:

“The Andrews Labor Government’s decision to turn its back on ADF to run hotel quarantine has led to the second wave of COVID across the state causing hundreds of deaths and the shutdown of our economy.

“With Daniel Andrews saying he takes full responsibility of his government’s decisions, it will be a test of Labor’s new industrial manslaughter legislation.

“With the Andrews Labor Government busy playing the blame game and not being transparent with Victorians, it’s imperative that WorkSafe investigate departments and ministers that created the hotel quarantine mess.”