❓ Mr Kirkup questions the Premier about quarantine breaches and requests the replacement of private contractors with ADF personnel. The Premier acknowledges the breaches, highlights the Commonwealth's responsibility, and details WA's actions and requests for ADF assistance.
AnsweredQoN 505Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
QUARANTINE ARRANGEMENTS
505. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I
refer to revelations of multiple breaches at quarantine hotels, which are the
front line of our protection in the fight against COVID-19. Given it
takes only one mistake to result in a COVID outbreak, will the Premier now ask
the commonwealth government to replace all private contractors with
professionally trained and disciplined Australian Defence Force personnel?
QUARANTINE ARRANGEMENTS
505. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I
refer to revelations of multiple breaches at quarantine hotels, which are the
front line of our protection in the fight against COVID-19. Given it
takes only one mistake to result in a COVID outbreak, will the Premier now ask
the commonwealth government to replace all private contractors with
professionally trained and disciplined Australian Defence Force personnel?
AnswerView source ↗
Obviously, we have all seen what has
occurred in Victoria and the difficulties being faced by the people of
Victoria. All our thoughts and regards go to the people of that state and
everyone who is going through a very traumatic time in Victoria.
We put in place quarantine measures
for people overwhelmingly coming back from overseas. It could be argued that is a commonwealth responsibility. People are
coming back from overseas, that is a commonwealth responsibility technically, but obviously from the beginning we worked cooperatively with the
commonwealth and took on the responsibility
of putting people into hotels on the basis that we share the cost with the
commonwealth. At this point , we have
had about 10 500 people quarantine in our hotels and at Rottnest Island. It has
cost in excess of $20 million. I am
advised that over that time, we have had four breaches out of 10 500 people in
quarantine. The breach the other day was a security guard who went to
the wrong room to collect an item. The wrong door was opened—a human
error was made. If any person was put at risk, it was actually the security
guard and not the people in the room. I think the people in the room had come
back from Victoria. People coming to Western Australia from Victoria are now
required to quarantine.
Some weeks ago, I saw the Prime
Minister being interviewed by Leigh Sales on the 7.30 program. I heard
him say in that interview that ADF personnel were available for quarantine
purposes. Once I heard him say that, I instantly, the next morning, said, ''If
he's going to offer, we will take it up.'' We put in a request
to the commonwealth for ADF assistance. After some considerable negotiation, we
have been provided with 50 personnel, which we are grateful for. But that is 50
personnel for five hotels 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When they are
shared out over that length of time and over that number of hotels, it is not
many people at any given point in time per hotel. If the commonwealth wanted to
take over all responsibility for quarantining, obviously that would be
something we would welcome. If the Prime Minister wanted to make that offer to Western
Australia, that is something we would welcome. At this point in time there has
been no such offer made.
occurred in Victoria and the difficulties being faced by the people of
Victoria. All our thoughts and regards go to the people of that state and
everyone who is going through a very traumatic time in Victoria.
We put in place quarantine measures
for people overwhelmingly coming back from overseas. It could be argued that is a commonwealth responsibility. People are
coming back from overseas, that is a commonwealth responsibility technically, but obviously from the beginning we worked cooperatively with the
commonwealth and took on the responsibility
of putting people into hotels on the basis that we share the cost with the
commonwealth. At this point , we have
had about 10 500 people quarantine in our hotels and at Rottnest Island. It has
cost in excess of $20 million. I am
advised that over that time, we have had four breaches out of 10 500 people in
quarantine. The breach the other day was a security guard who went to
the wrong room to collect an item. The wrong door was opened—a human
error was made. If any person was put at risk, it was actually the security
guard and not the people in the room. I think the people in the room had come
back from Victoria. People coming to Western Australia from Victoria are now
required to quarantine.
Some weeks ago, I saw the Prime
Minister being interviewed by Leigh Sales on the 7.30 program. I heard
him say in that interview that ADF personnel were available for quarantine
purposes. Once I heard him say that, I instantly, the next morning, said, ''If
he's going to offer, we will take it up.'' We put in a request
to the commonwealth for ADF assistance. After some considerable negotiation, we
have been provided with 50 personnel, which we are grateful for. But that is 50
personnel for five hotels 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When they are
shared out over that length of time and over that number of hotels, it is not
many people at any given point in time per hotel. If the commonwealth wanted to
take over all responsibility for quarantining, obviously that would be
something we would welcome. If the Prime Minister wanted to make that offer to Western
Australia, that is something we would welcome. At this point in time there has
been no such offer made.
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