One Man's Struggle Against 'The Best'
A Melbourne man is disgusted by his experience of Victoria’s contract tracing system, despite claims by the Victorian Government that it is the best in Australia.
Managing Consultant, Mark Barrow, yesterday spent four hours on the phone to Coronavirus Hotlines and the Department of Health without gaining any advice - and was also unable to be tested for the virus.
Mr Barrow’s experience started with a text and email from Uber yesterday morning advising him that the Local Department of Health was investigating a public health concern that involved an Uber trip Mr Barrow took where the potential for virus contact had occurred.
Mr Barrow had taken an Uber on the 26th and 27th of December.
Liberal Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, says Mr Barrow has still not had any contact from the DHHS.
“Mr Barrow rang several numbers – starting with the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline – where he was immediately transferred through to the Federal Hotline and advised the Victorian Hotline was not answering.
“He was provided the number for his local Department of Health – which he rang. It transferred him to the commercial vehicles department, where he sat on the phone for more than an hour.
“He then called back the Hotline to speak to a gentleman who was completely confused and had no idea what was going on.
“Unbelievably, the Department of Health gave Mr Barrow no advice on whether he should isolate or get tested – and merely indicated that contact tracers would be in touch. There is still no sign by way of contact from any DHHS contact tracers,” Mrs McArthur said.
Mr Barrow took it upon himself to get tested and drove 30 minutes to a test site, arriving at 3.20pm with about 10 other cars waiting. Despite the testing site advertising its closing time as 4pm, Mr Barrow was told the site was “now closed” because they “want to get out of there”.
“After four hours of phones calls – no advice – no help – no idea – Mr Barrow was also unable to get tested within the prescribed hours.
“Where is the urgency, care or desire to help Victorians who are trying to do the right thing?
“Obviously Uber, their drivers, passengers and individuals like Mr Barrow are all trying ‘to do the right thing’ but as this tale of shambles demonstrates, the Government is definitely not doing ‘the right thing’ by its own citizens.
“This is another case of complete failure by the Victorian Government. This sorry saga would make the script writers of ‘Utopia’ proud.
“This is not the best system in Australia or even of the ‘high standard’ as described by Premier Andrews.
“However, given their standard is to lie, to buck pass, to look the other way, to not take responsibility for 801 lives then maybe - in Labor’s world - this is a good system.
“To those Victorian’s directly impacted, this is just another day in the shambles that is Victoria’s State of Emergency”.
The State Government has had almost a year to get the system up to some sort of acceptable standard, let alone a ‘gold’ version, but they have failed again.
Mr Barrow says he “is left wondering whether we’ll be in another lockdown by February”.
“Unfortunately, with Labor’s ongoing disgrace, he’s not the only one terrified with the thought,” Mrs McArthur said.
06 January 2021