Sydney Local Health District CEO Teresa Anderson charged COVID quarantine detainees for services ordered by then NSW Commissioner Mick Fuller
by Ganesh Sahathevan
SLHD CEO Teresa Anderson AM has ultimate responsibility for signing
off SLHD's financial statements
Sydney Local Health District CEO Teresa Anderson charged COVID quarantine detainees for services ordered by then NSW Commissioner Mick Fuller . While her conduct may seem to be a mere extension on Fuller's COVID quarantine gymnastics, Andersen is the person in whose name quarantine fee notices are issued. Andersen seems like the logical person with whom to commence a COVID quarantine fee recovery class action.
TO BE READ WITH
by Ganesh Sahathevan
It has been previously revealed on this blog that former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller may have breached the law with his demand for quarantine fees (see story below)..
However, having taken responsibility for ordering overseas arrivals into quarantine, Fuller then seems to have taken it upon himself to have the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) provide health services to the persons held in quarantine. Readers will recall that Revenue NSW issued orders for payment (pretending to be invoices) on behalf of the SLHD to persons who had been held in quarantine, for health services they never requested.
It appears then that Fuller had requested SLHD provide the health services, but then determined that his department and he would not foot the bill.
It surely cannot be the case that the Police Commissioner's powers include having others pay his bills and therefore, not only would the quarantine fees charged those held in quarantine be illegal, but liability for repayment may fall on Fuller personally.
Procedurally fees would need to be refunded by SLHD and Revenue NSW, but then the NSW taxpayer would be entitled to reimbursement from Fuller. Fuller is now a partner at PwC.
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
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
by Ganesh Sahathevan
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.
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