The Covid-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry wrapped up this week with counsel assisting submitting that the Government's failures were responsible for 768 deaths and the entire second wave in Victoria. Ken Phillips from Self Employed Australia has triggered a prosecution request by writing to the OHS authority - WorkSafe - under section 130 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic).
They are now required by law to take action or detail reasons why they failed to take action, by late December 2020.
Ken asked me to conduct this interview so the true and balanced story could get out. It's a doozy.
----------------------
Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/WsrSSpmDF3o
----------------------
Show notes:
2:44 The risks of hotel quarantine were known from the beginning
4:27 Compulsory reporting for communicable diseases
7:03 ADF support rejected and private contractors used instead
8:01 COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry (Coate Inquiry)
10:10 Contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
13:05 Victorian Government failed to provide a safe system of work
14:28 OHS Act triggered under section 130
15:20 Timelines required by the OHS Act
17:43 The letter that triggered the prosecution request
19:05 The largest OHS prosecution in the history of Australia
20:30 Worksafe investigative powers are supreme
21:40 Changing the OHS landscape
24:46 The best OHS Act in the world?
26:25 Ramifications of successful prosecution
27:56 Collective amnesia at the Coate Inquiry
30:16 Legitimacy of legal claim
31:16 Who is Self-Employed Australia?
34:40 Union official turned small business advocate
36:20 Union influence in hotel quarantine contracts
38:44 An explanation for Dan Andrew's decision making
39:40 Manslaughter laws
42:00 Government must be bound by the Rule of Law
43:50 How to support the fight against the Victorian Government
