The Victorian Government’s attempt to block a class action suit over hotel quarantine mismanagement has been overruled by the Supreme Court.
A Ballarat business joined other Victorian businesses in the action in September last year seeking compensation for the bungled quarantine and subsequent lockdowns, claiming it financially crippled them.
Chipmunks Ballarat Owner Varneet Singh confirmed at the time he blames the Victorian Government for his business’s losses, claiming the lockdowns and loss of trade left his earnings at zero.
The Government’s request for the case to be delayed pending the outcome of a separate, criminal prosecution against the State of Victoria have been denied by the Supreme Court.
Damian Scattini, who is leading the class action with his firm Quinn Emanual Trial Lawyers, welcomed the news, observing that more than two years on Victorian business owners are still paying the price for the lockdown and have a right to fight for compensation.
“When the Victorian Government decided to run a mandatory hotel quarantine program, it took on a duty to ensure it was managed properly. If the hotel quarantine program had been handled competently by the people in charge, there would not have been a second lockdown,” Mr Scattini said.
