Confirmation that Victorian taxpayers have been charged $377 million for Daniel Andrews’ relaunched hotel quarantine program is a slap in the face to every Victorian family and small business doing it tough.
This latest cost comes on top of the $195 million for Labor’s disastrous first hotel quarantine program and brings the total cost of hotel quarantine to at least $572 million.
Despite international flights having been suspended for almost a month, staff continue to work at empty hotels adding to the $78 million paid to staff to do nothing whilst international flights were suspended from July 2020.
After forking out more than half a billion dollars, Daniel Andrews’ hotel quarantine program has been responsible for two hard lockdowns, more than 800 deaths, 250,000 job losses and immeasurable economic and social harms.
With New South Wales and other states able to run effective and safe quarantine programs, it’s clear Daniel Andrews simply can’t get hotel quarantine right at the expense of all Victorians.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Police and Community Safety, David Southwick:
“After two failed attempts and Victorians paying millions for a program on life support, it’s clear the Andrews Labor Government simply can’t get hotel quarantine right.
“Over half a billion dollars later and all Victorians have to show is two lockdowns, more than 800 deaths, 250,000 jobs lost and thousands of Victorians still stranded overseas with no way to come home.”
