NSW Police has taken the blame for a breach in which two German travellers skipped hotel quarantine and flew to Melbourne after arriving in Sydney, sending dozens of their fellow passengers into home quarantine.
The 53-year-old woman and 15-year-old boy landed at Sydney International Airport from Japan about 9.45am on Saturday, NSW police said.
“After being cleared, all travellers were directed to board a bus to hotel quarantine, before the pair advised that they were booked on a flight to Melbourne,” the statement said.
“Police made inquiries as to travel and exemptions, which subsequently allowed the pair to travel to Melbourne on a domestic flight under standard protocols for exempt travellers.”
On arrival in Melbourne, Victorian authorities advised NSW Health the pair was not granted an approved exemption.
They were escorted to hotel quarantine, where they remain.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said it was an employee at a car rental company who overheard a conversation and first picked up on the breach.
Following an investigation, NSW Police acknowledged it was police error that led to the incident.
“The NSW Police Force has since conducted a review into the circumstances of the incident and identified police had incorrectly allowed the two travellers to proceed to Melbourne,” the statement said.
“Police practices and systems at the airport have also been reviewed and strengthened as a result of this incident.”
NSW Police deputy commissioner Jeff Loy said: “Is it fail safe? Obviously not. But we’ve admitted the error. When you consider there’s two people out of 100,000 passengers since March this year in this operation, it really is outstanding,”
The incident was made public on Saturday night, when anyone who travelled on flight VA 838 from Sydney to Melbourne that afternoon was ordered to quarantine at home and contact Victorian health authorities.
There were 170 passengers and six crew on the flight.
Earlier on Sunday, the Australian Border Force released a statement saying its officers were not to blame.
The ABF said it is responsible only for clearing people who arrive in Australia from overseas, and the two travellers met all customs and immigration requirements.
“From that point, the responsibility for the passengers passes to state and territory authorities for hotel quarantine and onwards domestic travel, if relevant,” the statement said.
“The ABF will continue to assist state and territory authorities as required.”
Victoria will begin to again accept international travellers on Monday into its revamped hotel quarantine system.
https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5
2020-12-06 09:33:45Z
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