The federal government offered troops to help run Victoria's hotel quarantine on 'multiple occasions' - but the state government refused and decided to use private security guards instead, it was revealed today. In an inquiry on Tuesday morning, Premier Daniel Andrews said ADF support was not offered after the quarantine program was set up in March. On that day Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp requested 850 troops to help with hotel quarantine compliance - but the request was withdrawn the next day. During the inquiry today, the premier was also asked whose idea it was to man hotel quarantine with private security guards instead of the police and army troops. The premier was asked if he regrets 'the decision to employ private security guards in hotel quarantine'.

Source: Daily Mail August 11, 2020 06:44 UTC