Hotel quarantine charges dropped against Victoria’s health department [Video]

Victoria’s top safety watchdog said it’s “deeply disappointed” after all charges against the Department of Health were dropped following the state’s hotel quarantine program.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas confirmed this morning that charges against the department had been dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Returning travellers were forced to quarantine inside hotel rooms. (Getty)

WorkSafe had alleged the Department of Health breached Occupational Health and Safety laws by failing to appoint people with infection prevention and control (IPC) expertise at quarantine hotels.

They had also accused the Department of Health of 17 occupational health and safety breaches, for failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment for employees.

The other 41 breaches were for allegedly failing to ensure that persons other than employees were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

The “complex investigation” took 15 months to complete and involved reviewing tens of thousands of documents and multiple witness interviews.

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