‘Creeping Assumption’ Caused Victoria’s Quarantine Program’s Failure

Assisting Counsel Rachel Ellyard at Hotel Quarantine Inquiry on Sept. 28, 2020. COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry [CC by 4.0]

The critical call to use private security guards in Melbourne’s hotel quarantine program was a collective “creeping assumption” influenced by Premier Daniel Andrews and the former Police commissioner, Victoria’s hotel quarantine inquiry has heard.

After six weeks of interviewing 63 witnesses—the board of inquiry on Sept. 28 concluded no individual made the call to use private security guards instead of Victoria Police or Australian Defence Forces in the state’s compulsory quarantine system.