Moves to end hotel quarantine in NSW and Victoria welcomed
The Human Rights Law Centre today welcomed the announcement of moves to abolish hotel quarantine in NSW and Victoria for vaccinated people who test negative. Last week, the NSW Government announced the abolition of hotel quarantine from 1 November for vaccinated people. Today, the Victorian Government announced a home quarantine trial from 27 October.
Hugh de Kretser, Executive Director at the Human Rights Law Centre said:
“Many Australians are closely connected with loved ones overseas. Almost half of us have a parent born overseas. Removing hotel quarantine for vaccinated people will remove a significant barrier for thousands of Australians stranded overseas. It will help people to reunite with families and loved ones.
“The blanket use of hotel quarantine for Australians returning home cannot be justified in NSW and Victoria given current transmission and vaccination rates. It simply makes no sense to detain vaccinated people who have tested negative for two weeks in a hotel and charge them $3000, when thousands of people with COVID-19 are allowed to isolate at home across Victoria and NSW.
“We welcome these moves from the NSW and Victorian Governments to abolish hotel quarantine for vaccinated people who test negative. They should be accelerated. Vaccinated people with recent and repeated negative tests pose a very low risk. The decision as to whether hotel quarantine should be replaced with home quarantine for a reduced period, or simply a testing regime, should be informed by the best available public health evidence on risk.
“Detention in a hotel room for two weeks, especially without access to fresh air or exercise, poses significant welfare challenges. People with mental and physical health conditions, the elderly, children, survivors of family violence and people with disability face particular risks. Abolishing hotel quarantine will improve people’s welfare. Wherever they operate, laws that authorise detention require strong justification and regular review so that restrictions are no wider than necessary.”
The Human Rights Law Centre also warned of dangers of facial recognition technology currently being used in home quarantine trials.
“Facial recognition technology carries significant human rights and privacy risks. There must be proper safeguards and transparency around its use in home quarantine. There must be a clear ban on any of the data collected being used for any other purpose beyond public health compliance.”
In a submission last month to the second national review of quarantine, the Human Rights Law Centre called for an end to hotel quarantine in NSW and Victoria and noted that quarantine detention has been a key part of the system preventing thousands of Australians stranded overseas from returning home. Read the Human Rights Law Centre’s submission here.
The Human Rights Law Centre recommends that governments continue to review the best available medical evidence around risk and adjust quarantine programs to take into account any new risks, such as the emergence of new COVID-19 strains.
Media contact:
Michelle Bennett, Engagement Director, 0419 100 519, michelle.bennett@hrlc.org.au