Hotel quarantine charges against health department dropped
The Office of Public Prosecutions has dropped all charges against Victoria’s health department for hotel quarantine breaches during the coronavirus pandemic.
The health department had been charged with 58 offences related to putting employees and people forced to quarantine at risk of serious illness or death during COVID.
Returning travellers catch the Skybus to hotel quarantine.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said she was advised of the decision on Tuesday but could not say when the decision was made.
WorkSafe Victoria had accused the health department of 17 occupational health and safety breaches for failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment for employees.
The department was also charged with an additional 41 breaches for failing to ensure that non-employees were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
Between March and July 2020, the health department was responsible for Victoria’s first hotel quarantine program.
WorkSafe alleged it failed to appoint experts in infection prevention and control at the hotels.
It said the department had failed to provide proper training to security guards and failed to provide proper instructions related to wearing masks at several hotels.
In all charges, WorkSafe had alleged the health department, Victorian government employees on secondment and security guards were put at risk of serious illness or death through contracting COVID from returned travellers, other people working in the hotels or from contaminated surface.
Thomas told reporters she could provide more details on the decision later on Wednesday.
The Office of Public Prosecutions has been contacted for comment.
More to come
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.