WorkSafe Victoria charges Victorian health department with 58 breaches, over COVID hotel quarantine program

In the public interest.

Go to Linked in to access links https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/worksafe-victoria-charges-victorian-health-department-bell%C3%A9-noblet/

So who has to pay for the breaches. The public. What happens when this hotel quarantine breach is used to set up remote quarantine ‘out of sight out of mind’. The concern is FEMA style camps when no healthy person or supposed dissident should be quarantined.

Former judge Jennifer Coate has delivered her final report into Victoria's hotel quarantine program.CREDIT:GETTY
Former judge Jennifer Coate has delivered her final report into Victoria’s hotel quarantine program.CREDIT:GETTY

WorkSafe Victoria charges Victorian health department with 58 breaches, over COVID hotel quarantine program.

  • Published on September 29, 2021

Bellé N.Project Officer – Infrastructure, Education & Training, Health & Safety, AOD & Mental Health4 articles Follow

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report provides the background into Australia’s response to COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is a major health threat and has caused an international crisis, which has led to substantial disruption to almost all parts of society worldwide. The outbreak first came to international notice through a cluster of unexplained pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019. The COVID-19 epidemic was declared a pandemic (the worldwide spread of a new infectious disease) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020, and by 27 June 2021 there had been nearly 180 million confirmed cases and 3.9 million deaths reported worldwide (WHO 2021a). 

There are several reasons why COVID-19 has become such a major crisis. Briefly, it being caused by a virus not previously seen in humans, there was initially no, and now only limited, immunity in the population. Similarly, there was no vaccine or specific treatment at the start of the pandemic. Although contradictory to AIHW there are many available reports from scientific data that implies differently. Our own AMA produced the following article ” How a decade of coronavirus research paved way for COVID-19 vaccines “AMA member Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, reassures that while the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred global cooperation for vaccine research and distribution, it has been a decade in the making.

It is also highly infectious and affects some people severely. It was therefore important to protect the health of vulnerable people and prevent the health system being overwhelmed with many severe cases presenting to hospital at once. The only practical way to contain its spread until the development of vaccines was by public health measures such as travel bans and quarantine, strong physical distancing policies and practices (such as closure of non-essential services and keeping a minimum distance between people), wearing masks (and other personal protective equipment), personal hygiene and strong case detection and isolation. These restrictions have had a serious impact on economies and societies across the world, with travel, trade and people’s ability to work, attend school and socialise all affected. The vaccines provide the prospect that the crisis may be able to be contained, but it is likely that a combination of public health measures and the vaccines will be needed for some time to come. 

Most countries have not had recent experience with similar epidemics, making the adjustment to new ways of living challenging. However, the threat of a pandemic was recognised internationally before the emergence of the virus (Ziegler et al. 2018) and Australia had its own well-developed system of public health response to communicable diseases (WHO 2018). The Australian Government developed an emergency response plan specifically for COVID-19, which was released on 27 February 2020 (Department of Health 2020b)

The Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) provides national public health coordination and leadership, and supports best practice for the prevention and control of communicable diseases (Department of Health 2015a). CDNA coordinates the national surveillance of an agreed list of communicable diseases in Australia. Part of this surveillance function is to collate the data collected by states and territories regarding notifiable communicable diseases into a de-identified national data set—the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). In addition, the Public Health Laboratory Network is a collaborative group of laboratory representatives that contributes laboratory-level expertise to the response to infections of public health importance (Department of Health 2020g). There are also Centres of Research Excellence that can provide valuable realtime clinical, public health and health services research which contributes to both the national and international efforts to combat the pandemic (Doherty Institute 2020).

Below is Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units, first Revision and published 30 July, 2020

If you are really interested in further research click on the link below for the full downloads from 2020 to the most recent 2021 of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemiology reports, Australia, 2020–2021

The direct and indirect health effects of the pandemic range from the effects on an individual with COVID-19 and the flow-on to the health system, through to the short- and longer-term impacts of the disruption to society due to the measures put in place to contain the virus. These potential indirect effects are wide-ranging and include impacts on mental health, health care for other conditions and health behaviours. For some people there have been positive changes, but for many others many challenges have arisen. Also important are the impacts on social determinants of health (the circumstances of an individual’s living conditions such as education, income, employment, housing and family situation), which have the potential to affect people’s lives for many years to come. 

Please remember the information provided in the reports discusses the traumatic times and could trigger people. There is a list of providers at the end of the article to if you find yourself in distress, or know of people who are in need of assistance.

“The Victorian government has been charged over a litany of alleged hotel quarantine breaches in a bombshell development.”

The bombshell came from Worksafe Media Release, Wednesday 29 September, 2021 below.

Media went into an absolute frenzy the ABC news ran with ‘WorkSafe alleges the Department of Health put workers in the hotel quarantine program at risk.’ (ABC News: Daniel Fermer, file photo)

The public opinion is having a field day, as reported by Peta Credlin who released this piece: ‘WorkSafe action might make Dan Andrews ‘retire’. Credlin stated If anything is going to make Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews retire before the next election, it will be “today’s WorkSafe action,” according to Sky News host Peta Credlin. Review in full Credlin’s opinion piece below.

“When I first heard the breaking news about these charges today I thought finally, finally we might see some justice for the families of Victoria’s 800 dead,” Ms Credlin said.

Background information to the Independent Inquiries, Government Reports, and Committee Reports are outlined below

Take your mind back to last year, on 2 July 2020, the Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Premier under section 53(1) of the Inquiries Act 2014, appointed a Board of Inquiry to examine aspects of the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Program.

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Read the Order in Council

The COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry is required to inquire into, report and make any recommendations in relation to its terms of reference including:

  • decisions and actions of government agencies, hotel operators and private contractors
  • communication between government agencies, hotel operators and private contractors
  • contractual arrangements
  • information, guidance, training and equipment provided to staff in hotels
  • policies, protocols and procedures.

COVID-19 HOTEL QUARANTINE INQUIRY Interim Report and Recommendations

‘Since its establishment, this Inquiry has obtained a significant volume of documents and other evidence from relevant parties, including via the public hearings held from 17 August until 28 September 2020. The Inquiry heard evidence about the Program from medical and scientific experts, government officials, hotel staff, and returned travellers who experienced the Hotel Quarantine Program. Following the conclusion of its hearings, the Inquiry began work to consolidate the information and evidence received in anticipation of delivering its Final Report by 6 November 2020. Most regrettably, additional material has been provided to the Inquiry since that time. This additional, potentially significant material has resulted in the need to delay delivery of the Final Report while further enquiries are conducted. How and why this delay occurred will be addressed in the Final Report.’- The Honourable Jennifer Coate AO

Delay of Inquiry Report

The inquiry was initially due to report in September but was delayed first by working at home constraints then by new documents, primarily from the Department of Health and Human Services, that were only provided to the inquiry in late October. 

COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry Final Report

“It has been a challenging and distressing year all over the world, some countries have been hit harder than others for a range of reasons that will be important to understand in time to come. Australia throughout 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc, inflicting widespread catastrophic loss of life in its wake. Australia has much to learn, as well as much for which it can be grateful, as this dangerous and highly infectious virus continues to overshadow our lives”. As noted in the Interim Report of the COVID Hotel Quarantine program, the movement of the virus through Victoria placed Victoria in sadly unique circumstances in contrast to the rest of the nation. “In the wake of breaches of containment in the Hotel Quarantine Program operating in Victoria at the time, a second wave descended with devastating consequences. Hundreds of lives were lost bringing suffering, sadness and grief to so many. Due to scientific evidence inextricably linking this second wave in Victoria to the transmission of infections stemming from returned travellers detained in the Hotel Quarantine Program” – The Honourable Jennifer Coate AO

The Inquiry’s Final Report examines the workings of Victoria’s Hotel Quarantine Program and provides associated findings and recommendations based on evidence and information provided to the Inquiry. This Final Report is to be read in conjunction with the Inquiry’s Interim Report, which was delivered to the Governor on 6 November 2020. The recommendations from the Interim Report find their evidentiary basis and rationale in the contents of this Final Report, in two volumes:

Volume I

Contains Chapters 1 to 8; Summary & Recommendations, Background, Covid 19- The Science, Pandemic Planning, Understanding how the decision to set up a Quarantine Program, Day measured in minutes, Private Security, Use of Hotels and Cleaners, DHHS as a contract agency

Volume II

Contains Chapters 9 to 14, including Appendices; Outbrakes at Rydges and Stamford Hotels, Testing for Covid-19 at Quarantine Hotels, Correcting the Course to a Health Hotel Model, REturned Travellers Rights and Welfare, Victoria’s Quarantine Program and How we went about our work.

The Age final say, “Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he intends to adopt all recommendations of a scathing final report into the state’s hotel quarantine program

The assessment that the military was not needed was made “without any proper consideration of … what would be the best enforcement option”.

“Instead, an early mention of private security rather than police grew into a settled position, adopted by acquiescence at the State Control Centre meeting.” That meeting at 4.30pm on March 27 involved Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp, Victoria Police and senior public servants.

“The then Chief Commissioner of Police was consulted and expressed a preference that private security perform that role and Victoria Police provide the ‘back up’ for that model,” Ms Coate found.

This was at odds with any normal application of the principles of the Westminster system of responsible government.

Jennifer Coate AO

Board of Inquiry into the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Program Submissions on behalf of Unified Security Group (Australia) Pty Ltd 

Introduction ” 1.1 On 1 July 2020 Premier Andrews said during an interview with Leigh Sales on the ABC’s 7.30 program that: “[w]e have some very clear suspicions about what’s gone on here. There are a number of staff who despite knowing about infection control protocols have decided to make a number of errors”. 1.2 The Premier’s evidence during cross-examination was that despite this statement, that cast aspersion on security and hotel workers for the outbreak, he could not recall the specific briefing or document upon which he made those public statements on the 7.30 program.1 That is not remarkable, because there is no evidence before the Inquiry that in any way substantiates the statement that was made.” Continue reading click on the link below.

Department of Health and Human Services

The report was scathing of the Department of Health and Human Services. It found the department suffered from a “significant lack of much-needed” public health expertise following years of government under-funding. Also, it was the lead agency but did not accept that responsibility.

“Just as DHHS did not see itself as the control agency responsible for the program, it did not see itself as ‘in charge’ on-site,” Ms Coate found.

“This left brewing the disaster that tragically came to be.”

In contrast to the findings above the Department of Health Human Services Annual Report 2019-20 to read click below.

It is intertesting to read the Objectives and Outcomes that the Department of Health have reported on page 24 of the report. Again is contravened by the many reports surfacing of how people were not coping with COVID-19 being forced into isolation, aged care services, lockdowns, businesses closing, uncertainty of Covid-19 and it’s implications for people with existing mental health issues, suicides rates, domestic violence abuse skyrocketed and homelessness. The programs, activities and services were not equipped to deliver critical services as reported.

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Contrary to the above Healthcare workers were at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 because of exposure at work, with an estimated 200 deaths recorded globally to May 2020 (Kursumovic et al. 2020). Recognized as being highly virulent and contagious (Zaka et al. 2020), COVID-19 is escalating staff psychological stress (Lai et al. 2020) and creating an increasingly heavy professional burden (Jun et al. 2020). The pandemic has affected all aspects of society including business, education, and the economy (Zaka et al. 2020), led to widespread fear, psychological problems(Gavin et al. 2020) and social isolation (Shanafelt et al. 2020). In addition, experience gained in previous pandemics shows that the severe psychological stress experienced by healthcare workers in the frontline can remain long after the pandemic has passed (Jun et al. 2020; Wallace et al. 2020). Fear of transmitting the virus to family, community perception of frontline workers as potential disease carriers, extreme workloads, limited availability of protective equipment and moral dilemmas add additional stressors (Pappa et al. 2020; Shanafelt et al. 2020; Wallace et al. 2020).

Reported in the International Journel of Mental Health Nursing, Melbourne medical, nursing, allied health and non-clinical staff responded to survey taken on-line survey of clinical staff working at one acute hospital between April 16th and May 13th, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Respondents reported anxiety, fear and uncertainty related to the pandemic, from the perspectives of work, home, family and community. They reported feeling confused by inconsistent messages received from government, hospital executive, managers and media. Seven themes were identified: (i) worrying about patient care, (ii) changed working conditions, (iii) working in the changed hospital environment, (iv) impact of the pandemic, (v) personal isolation and uncertainty, (vi) leadership and management and (vii) additional support needed for staff. Despite the pandemic being comparatively well-controlled in Australia, all disciplines reported a high degree of anticipatory anxiety. Staff working in healthcare require both managerial and psychological support to minimise anxiety and promote well-being and resilience in order to deal with the health crisis.’

Below is the Department of Health COVID-19 timeline, is outlined in the Department’s self congratulatory style ” While undoubtedly challenging, overall, the department’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has ensured the sustainability of the health system throughout the crisis and bolstered its capacity to provide muchneeded care to all Victorians. The implementation of stage three restrictions prevented between 9,000 and 37,000 additional cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in July alone, and the potential for further deaths from this fatal disease”.

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Australian Industry Participation Plan (AIP Plan)

With the initial budget of $3 million swelled to a cost of $5.7 million, how did the Australian Industry Participation Plan (AIP Plan) assist in planning for the contractors during the Hotel Quarentine response?

Did you know that requirements of AIP Plan aim is to ensure full, fair and reasonable opportunities for Australian industry to bid for the supply of goods and/or services to Commonwealth procurements.

The AIP Plan requirement includes work in major public and private projects in Australia, and procurements or projects receiving Australian Government funding of $20 million or more. The decision on whether an AIP Plan will apply to a project is determined by the AIP Plan Authority within the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.as they partner with providers to provide a plan.

VIPP applies to all Victorian Government procurement and project activities above the threshold values of $3 million or more in Metropolitan Melbourne and $1 million or more in

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Regional Victoria, including: • construction activities • Major Projects • Major Events • public-private partnerships • investment support grants • business development grants • community infrastructure grants

What Additional local content will apply to strategic Projects?

A declared Strategic Project will be subject to additional local content requirements, namely: • A target of a minimum percentage of the procurement value (on a whole-of-life basis) to be comprised of local content

• Tenderers for Strategic Projects will be required, in consultation with ICN, to produce VIPP Plans in the form of detailed Local Industry Development Plans to be used to assess competing bids

• In the context of Strategic Projects, rail rolling stock projects will be subject to a minimum local content target of 40% on a whole of life basis and the VIPP commitments of tenderers will have a weighting of 10% in tender evaluation.

Where and How did the ICN help during the COVID-19 response?

ICN provides a technical service to buyers and nominates competitive manufacturers of locally-made goods and services across all industry sectors and major projects. Guidelines and assistance are available free from the ICN to help the business community find local suppliers and genuinely adhere to the VIPP’s key principles. ICN can also help bidders prepare their VIPP Plan as part of their contract bid.

For government agencies, ICN provides:

  • Advice on activities with potential for local industry involvement
  • Guidance in the form of suitable VIPP clauses for use in documentation
  • Nomination of potential metropolitan and regional tenderers
  • Introduction to competitive suppliers
  • Analysis of bidders’ VIPP Plans
  • Certification of post-tender changes and contract outcomes
  • Advice and templates for monitoring VIPP compliance
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The Victorian Prospect – Special Edition: Industry Response to COVID-19

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ICN COVID-19 Response Factsheet

PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA

Public Accounts and Estimates Committee Parliament of Victoria Public Accounts and Estimates Committee Ordered to be published VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER February 2021 PP No 203, Session 2018-2021 ISBN 978 1 922425 18 8 (print version), 978 1 922425 19 5 (PDF version) Inquiry into the Victorian

Released Inquiry into the Victorian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria, and in response to a request from the Premier, the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (the Committee) resolved on 29 April 2020 to undertake an inquiry into the Victorian Government’s response to the pandemic. The Committee has ‘own motion’ powers. These allow it to undertake inquiries and report to Parliament on any document that is relevant to the functions of the Committee. The Committee also has the mandate to examine any matter relating to public administration or public sector finances. The legislative basis for the Committee’s reference was provided through two reports relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, that had been tabled in the Parliament prior to 29 April 2020. These were the Report to the Parliament on the Declaration of a State of Emergency (17 March 2020) and the Report to Parliament on the Extension of the Declaration of State of Emergency (23 April 2020). Both of these reports were required under Section 198 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. “

Parliament of Victoria Findings 159 and Recommendations 47

“The Committee made findings across a number of issues—pandemic preparedness, infection rates, contact tracing, economic consequences and increased pressure on the Victorian community services sector. The report also contains recommendations to the Victorian Government.”

WorkSafe Victoria

Is a Government agency, but is not funded by taxpayer dollars.

  • Instead it charges premiums from WorkCover, an insurance employers pay to fund compensation to workers injured on the job.
  • It also levies fines for unsafe work practices and draws income from various investments.
  • Should the Victorian Health Department be convicted and fined for the hotel quarantine charges, the money will go to WorkSafe.
  • WorkSafe will use the fine to pay its staff and operating costs, compensate injured workers, and keep WorkSafe premiums down.

How does Worksafe provide Investigations and enforcement

It was widely reported that WorkSafe investigation into the program was complex, involving reviewing tens of thousands of documents and multiple witness interviews over 15 months.

WorkSafe may conduct investigations into suspected contraventions of the laws administered by WorkSafe. Those laws are the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, the Dangerous Goods Act 1985, the Equipment (Public Safety) Act 1995 and the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013.

Victorian Ombudsman released “Ombudsman’s recommendations – third report Date posted:30 Jun 2020

Follow-up on my 2016 and 2018 reports on recommendations

Over the past two years, I have revisited and followed-up on two of my previous investigations. In WorkSafe 2: Follow-up investigation into the management of complex workers compensation claims, I revisited my 2016 Investigation into the management of complex workers compensation claims and WorkSafe oversight,

Further documents to read

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report -The first year of COVID-19 in Australia: direct and indirect health effects

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OECD Policy Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The territorial impact of COVID-19: Managing the crisis across levels of government 10 May 2020

Infectious and communicable diseases

The Impact and Implications of COVID-19: An Australian Perspective- First Published July 1, 2020 

COVID-19 National Health Plan – Modelling and Surveillance to Support the Response to COVID-19

Released MARCH 2020, this was the first official act sheet about the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This fact sheet is about the additional modelling and surveillance activities that will help improve our understanding of and response to COVID-19.

To review all of the COVID-19 Government official releases for 2020 Search all resources on this page or select a tab to see publications, videos, audio, collections of related resources and more Click on this link Resources

International Journal of Mental Health Nursing: Hospital staff well-being during the first wave of COVID-19: Staff perspectives

First published: 23 October 2020

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Mental health crisis helplines

If you are in an emergency, in danger or you or someone close to you has seriously harmed themself, call triple zero (000) for emergency services.

If you are not in an emergency situation, but you need immediate help, call one of the following helplines that offer crisis support and counselling over the phone:

  • Lifeline – call 13 11 14 for this free, 24-hour Australia-wide crisis support and suicide prevention service.
  • Suicide Call Back Service – call 1300 659 467 for this free service for people having suicidal thoughts, family or friends affected by suicide and healthcare professionals treating suicidal people.
  • SuicideLine – call 1300 651 251 for free and anonymous support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week across Victoria.

#hotelquarantine #vicgov #covid #worksafeReport this

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Bellé N.Project Officer – Infrastructure, Education & Training, Health & Safety, AOD & Mental HealthPublished • 5d4 articlesFollowDan Andrews’ Department of Health is CHARGED with 58 offences over bungled hotel quarantine system which led to Victoria’s lockdown In a statement on Wednesday, 29 September, WorkSafe Victoria alleged the department breached health and safety laws when it ran the state’s hotel quarantine system from March to July 2020.  Overview- *Victoria Department of Health charged with 58 offences over hotel quarantine *SafeWork alleged they breached OHS laws surrounding the bungled system *17 alleged breaches of failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment *41 alleged breaches for failing to ensure guests and others weren’t exposed *Each breach would see fines of $1.64million each with total of $95.12million Bungled system led to Victoria’s mammoth 112 day lockdown The Opionon Article written below collectively provides Committee, Government and Departmental reports coupled with the media posts, that are freely available to the public via the intranet, links supplied. The reports assists one to provide relevant context and information to assist you in making an informed decision on the continuous circus of affairs, for example; – Covid-19Hotel Quarantine Inquiry- volumes I and volume II -Board of Inquiry into the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Program Submissions on behalf of Unified Security Group (Australia) Pty Ltd  – What was the criterion and management for the contractors by VIPP Plan for the Hotel Quarantine project, that require mandatory consultation and certification by the Industry Capability Network Victoria (ICN) or the Department of Innovation Industry & Regional Development (DIIRD) – Parliament of Victoria, Public Accounts and Estimates Committee “Inquiry into the Victorian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic” report with Findings 159 and Recommendations 47 – “Department of Health and Human Services annual report 2019–20” – How Worksafe conducts Investigations and enforcement – Victoria Ombudsman- “Ombudsman’s recommendations – third report” ~Investigation into the management of complex workers compensation claims and WorkSafe oversight hashtag#safetyhashtag#lawhashtag#healthandsafetyhashtag#healthhashtag#lawyershashtag#securityhashtag#peoplehashtag#traininghashtag#hotelshashtag#developmenthashtag#workhashtag#employmentlawhashtag#vicgovhashtag#hotelquarantineInquiry