Media contact Jayne Dullard 0405 229 summary of the report is available in the following languages: The Ombudsman's report of the Investigation into the detention and treatment of public housing residents arising from a COVID-19 'hard lockdown' in July 2020 was tabled in the Victorian Parliament today. Ms Glass said the Victorian Government did not agree that the detention may have been contrary to law or that any human rights were breached its response is included in the report.
The investigation heard Victoria's Acting Chief Health Officer had some 15 minutes prior to the July 4 media conference to consider and sign directions for the lockdown, including the potential human rights impacts, and that the immediacy of the lockdown was not on her advice. "In a just society, human rights are not a convention to be ignored during a crisis, but a framework for how we will treat and be treated as the crisis unfolds." "But proper consideration of human rights before the lockdown began would have put health, not security, front and centre," Ms Glass said. Ms Glass said her findings were not a criticism of Victorian health officials, who worked tirelessly to support residents and respond to the public health emergency. In my opinion, based on the evidence gathered by the investigation, the action appeared to be contrary to the law." "The rushed lockdown was not compatible with the residents' human rights, including their right to humane treatment when deprived of liberty. The investigation found a temporary lockdown was warranted and successfully contained the outbreak, but that its immediacy was not based on direct public health advice. Ms Glass said the lockdown was lifted at eight of the nine towers after five days, but residents at 33 Alfred St, where infection rates were highest, were detained for another nine days. "Since March, restrictions on movement both broad and specific have been issued many times in Victoria, but never before or since without warning," Ms Glass said. At the tower at 33 Alfred St, the focus of the investigation, residents waited more than a week to be allowed outside under supervision for fresh air.” Some people were without food and medicines. "We heard that initially there was chaos. "Many residents knew nothing of the lockdown or the reason for it when large numbers of police appeared on their estate that afternoon," Ms Glass said. She has recommended the Victorian Government apologise to the tower residents, acknowledging the impact of their immediate detention on their health and wellbeing. The Ombudsman’s request for documents from the Cabinet meeting, which are subject to privilege, was denied. Ms Glass said the investigation found the immediate start appeared traceable to a Crisis Council of Cabinet meeting at 1.45pm that afternoon. But at a media conference at 4pm the Premier announced the lockdown, starting immediately. Ombudsman Deborah Glass said her investigation found that senior health officials agreed on the morning of Saturday, July 4 that the towers should be locked down to control a COVID-19 outbreak, anticipating a next-day start to allow planning for food supplies and other logistics. Victoria closed its border with New South Wales state from late Tuesday, contrasting with easing restrictions in the rest of the country, where new infections are largely confined to returned travellers quarantined in hotels.The timing of the lockdown of North Melbourne and Flemington public housing towers on July 4 was not based on direct health advice and violated Victorian human rights laws, an investigation by the Victorian Ombudsman has found. Melbourne is the capital of Victoria state, which on Tuesday reported its highest number of new infections at 191.
AUSTRALIA LOCKDOWN APARTMENTS FULL
More than 3,000 public housing residents in nine high-rise blocks entered a fourth full day of lockdown on Tuesday following a surge in COVID-19 cases, as authorities in Australia’s most stricken city try to halt the infection for fear of it spreading rapidly in the densely populated buildings. “This is not a lockdown, this is a lockup.” “I looked outside from my window and no nurses, no cleaners, no food - just lots of cops,” the 42-year-old mother of two told Reuters by phone from her two-bedroom flat.
A public housing tower, locked down in response to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is seen in Melbourne, Australia, July 8, 2020.
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