'There is a complete vacuum of evidence around this, which is unsatisfactory,' said Arthur Moses, SC, representing one of the security companies, Unified.
Several hours of evidence from former police chief commissioner Graham Ashton at the hotel quarantine inquiry on Thursday failed to reveal who first proposed using private security guards in Victoria's botched hotel quarantine system.
The inquiry also heard that current police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton made a diary note on March 27 that seemed to directly contradict Premier Daniel Andrews' statement that the Australian Defence Force was not offered as part of Victoria's hotel quarantine system.The words will put even more focus on Mr Andrews' anticipated appearance before the inquiry next week.
Mr Ashton said in another text to Mr Kershaw he thought the choice to use private security guards was a "deal set up by our [Department of Premier and Cabinet]", and even at that early stage, it was clear NSW would take a different tack.
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