Businesses in Victoria impacted by the second wave of COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia have the opportunity to register for a class action lawsuit. Despite charges against the state government being dropped due to inadmissible evidence, the class action is continuing. Law firm Quinn Emanuel is inviting businesses to register for the class action by July 8, with the aim of recovering losses incurred between July 2020 and October 2020. The class action alleges negligence in the hotel quarantine program as the cause of the lockdowns.
The Supreme Court of Victoria has ordered mediation to occur in November 2024, giving both parties an opportunity to reach an agreement about the outcome of the action. The deadline for registration is July 8, according to a court notice issued to group members of the class action.
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott recently expressed concerns about the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that Australia “ceased being a democracy” during this time. He believes that without a royal commission, similar mistakes could be made in the future, leading to further lockdowns and restrictions. Abbott argues that the government’s decision to deviate from prepared pandemic plans in response to alarming images from overwhelmed Italian hospitals was a critical mistake.
In a separate development, charges against the Victorian Department of Health regarding COVID-19 hotel quarantine were dropped due to a legal loophole. The second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria resulted in 800 deaths, with 99% of them traced back to workers at quarantine hotels. However, prosecutors dropped charges when evidence from key health department witnesses was deemed inadmissible in court. While WorkSafe Victoria had previously charged the health department with alleged breaches of occupational health and safety laws related to hotel quarantine, a magistrate determined there was enough evidence to proceed with a trial. However, a ruling based on the Inquiries Act excluded relevant evidence from being used in other proceedings.
The decision not to hold anyone accountable for the loss of 800 lives from hotel quarantine has drawn criticism from Victorian Liberal Opposition leader John Pesutto. He expressed concern about the lack of accountability and called for transparency in the decision-making process. WorkSafe Victoria also expressed disappointment with the decision to discontinue criminal proceedings.
Overall, the class action lawsuit in Victoria aims to provide compensation for businesses affected by lockdowns during the second wave of COVID-19. However, concerns about accountability and the handling of the pandemic remain, as highlighted by Tony Abbott and John Pesutto. The dropped charges against the health department further raise questions about the legal implications of the hotel quarantine program.
