Commissioner of Fines Administration issuing garnishee orders to recover COVID quarantine fees adds to evidence that fromer Premier Gladys Berejiklian, her Police Chief Mick Fuller administered a system of fines masquerading as a fee for service -Berejikilian ministers Damien Tudehope , Brad Hazzard and Victor Dominello refused to issue itemised invoices for their so-called "quarantine fee", Tudehope admitted that the Health Services Act was used as cover to charge for police and other security Berejiklian and Fuller ordered for quarantine hotels

 by Ganesh Sahathevan 

Commissioner of Fines Administration issuing garnishee orders to recover COVID quarantine fees adds to evidence that fromer Premier Gladys Berejiklian, her Police Chief Mick Fuller  administered  a system of fines masquerading as a fee for service -Berejikilian ministers Damien Tudehope , Brad Hazzard and Victor Dominello refused to issue itemised invoices for their so-called "quarantine fee", Tudehope admitted that the Health Services Act was used as cover to charge forpolice and other  security Berejiklian and Fuller ordered for quarantine hotels

Reported by the SMH in October 2023:

A 2021 investigation by the Ombudsman found Revenue NSW had unlawfully used an automated system to issue garnishee orders between 2016 and 2019, leaving financially vulnerable people unable to pay rent.

The agency’s spokesperson said all recent decisions to issue garnishee orders for outstanding quarantine fees had been made by an officer delegated by the Commissioner of Fines Administration.

TO BE READ WITH 

Revenue NSW COVID Quarantine Fee payment demand notices suggest that Police Commissioner Mick Fuller breached the law with his demand for quarantine fees

 

By Ganesh Sahathevan 

Anyone who has received a Revenue NSW Quarantine Fee demand for payment notice  will be familiar with these words that are contained in the notice:

What is the quarantine service fee?

A mandatory quarantine service fee applies to all travellers arriving in New South Wales (NSW) who are required to quarantine as part of the public health order. Mandatory quarantine is needed to stop the spread. of COVID-19 in NSW

The qurantine fee has been charged pursuant to Section 70 of  the NSW Health Act. However, as previously reported, that section does not permit any imposition of mandatory fees. 

However, in apparent defiance of Section 70 of the Health Act, Fuller issued a notice  in which he said  that Revenue NSW " will be charging a mandatory quarantine fee".

TOE BE READ WITH 

Former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said in his notice that Revenue NSW " will be charging a mandatory quarantine fee" - Former NSW Ministers Hazzard, Tudehope insisted that the quarantine fees charged by Sydney Local Health District, pursuant to the NSW Health Services Act

May 02, 2023

 by Ganesh Sahathevan 

                                                                 

                       Mick Fuller and his premier, Gladys Berejiklian

The former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said in his notice to returning air travellers that Revenue NSW " will be charging a mandatory quarantine fee"  for their hotel quarantine. 

On the other ,  former NSW Ministers  Hazzard, Tudehope  have insisted that the  quarantine fees are being  charged by  Sydney Local Health District, pursuant to the NSW Health Services Act (HSA). 

Tudehope did however insist that the fee included police and Army security (which are not provided for in the HSA) 

The HSA does not confer Revenue NSW with powers to provide or charge for health services. 

To Be Read With 

Damien Tudehope, NSW Minister for Finance using Health Services Act to recover costs that fall outside the Act; Dominello's Revenue NSW enforcing collection of costs under the guise quarantine fees

October 23, 2021

 by Ganesh Sahathevan 

                                  Tough talking Damien Tudehope may not have the power to impose the

                                  bulk of his quarantine fee, if any

On 21 February 2021 the SMH quoting  NSW Minister For Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope reported:

NSW Finance Minister Damien Tudehope said hotel quarantine was a key safeguard in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and Australians returning from overseas or interstate needed to contribute to the cost.

"When it comes to paying your invoice for hotel quarantine, the message is a simple one - payment of your fee is not optional," Mr Tudehope said.

"Don't ignore it. If you are facing hardship or difficulty paying, contact us about making payment, entering into a payment plan, an extension to pay or other hardship measures."

Mr Tudehope said the bill was not just for the accommodation and food but also a contribution towards security, testing, cleaning, police, health personnel and other expenses.

The imposition and collection of the fee is permitted pursuant the provisions of section 70 of the Health Services Act 1997, for the provision of health services(see article below).

Minister Tudehope however has made it clear that the bill was not just for the accommodation and food but also a contribution towards security, testing, cleaning, police, health personnel and other expenses.

It does seem as if Tudehope, by his own words, relies on Section 70 of the HSA to collect payment for a whole range of costs incurred by NSW Health, in whose name Revenue NSW issues the bill.

TO BE READ WITH 

Dominello's Revenue says Hazzard relied on NSW Health Services Act to demand payment of quarantine fees- Act says Hazzard can only demand what a person can afford, Hazzard will still not say what "health services" he provided