Confirmation today that the Andrews Labor Government has granted six hotel quarantine exemptions to returned travellers since April raises several concerning questions related to Victoria’s current COVID-19 outbreak.
This concerning revelation comes as Victoria prepares for Labor’s current seven-day circuit breaker lockdown to be extended – costing Victorian businesses, workers and families more than $1 billion a week.
With reports that at least one of these six returned travellers having arrived from India, the Andrews Labor Government must come clean with Victorians and answer the following questions:
- Why were each of these six hotel quarantine exemptions granted?
- What country did each of these travellers arrive from?
- Did each of these returned travellers test negative for COVID-19 before these exemptions were granted?
- Did each of these returned travellers test negative for COVID-19 before they were released from home quarantine?
- Did each of these travellers complete 14 days home quarantine?
- Did any of these travellers leave home quarantine at any point before its completion?
- In what suburb did each of these returned travellers complete their home quarantine?
- What arrangements were made to ensure any potential COVID-19 virus did not escape home quarantine?
- Will the Andrews Labor Government rule out any links between the current COVID-19 outbreak and these six hotel quarantine exemptions?
With a missing link between the Wollert cluster and all cases in this current outbreak, Labor must immediately come clean on any connection between their hotel quarantine exemptions and Victoria’s worsening COVID-19 outbreak.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Police and Crime Prevention, David Southwick:
“Serious questions surround the Andrews Labor Government’s granting of hotel quarantine free passes and Victoria’s worsening COVID-19 outbreak.
“Labor must come clean with the Victorian community today and answer why these exemptions were granted and what impact it has had on community safety.”
