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This was published 4 years ago
Border Force allowed Ruby Princess to dock
By Nick McKenzie and Alexandra Smith
An Australian Border Force officer told a Sydney harbourmaster to allow the troubled Ruby Princess to dock despite the ship having as many as 140 passengers in isolation on board, official sources said.
Sources with knowledge of official inquiries into the debacle revealed a conversation took place with the Port Authority of NSW employee and a Border Force officer in the hours before the ship was due to dock.
The Ruby Princess cruise ship at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay, Sydney.Credit: Kate Geraghty
The officer expressed concern about passengers disembarking after being made aware that as many as 140 passengers aboard were in isolation due to health concerns.
So serious were the concerns flagged, the harbourmaster offered to stop the ship at Bradley’s Head to prevent it docking at Sydney Harbour.
According to the sources, the harbourmaster was told by the Border Force officer that they needed to check with a supervisor and 15 minutes later, the officer called back and said the ship could dock.
The crucial development is understood to be a key part of a NSW Police criminal investigation examining the fiasco. There are as many as 650 passengers who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and there have been 15 deaths.
The sources said authorities would almost certainly examine who the Border Force official spoke to and why the decision not to leave the ship at Bradley’s Head was made.
Border Force confirmed the telephone conversation between its officer and a ports authority employee in the early hours of March 19.
"The ABF officer made internal enquiries and subsequently advised the NSW Port Authority that the vessel had been cleared by NSW Health," a statement from Border force said.
"The ABF did not seek to shape or influence any view or decision by the NSW Port Authority."
NSW's total confirmed cases of COVID-19 stands at 2734, an increase of 49 cases on the previous day. There are 227 people being treated by NSW Health, including 36 patients in intensive care and 22 on ventilators.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian told her MPs in a recent party room meeting that Border Force had wrongly told NSW Health that the cruise ship was deemed "low-risk" before it docked on March 19.
Almost 2700 passengers were allowed to disembark in the early hours of March 19, with four cases of coronavirus confirmed hours later.
An MP who was in the party room said Ms Berejiklian "made it very clear that we did not fail, we were not responsible".
"She was very defiant. We were absolutely not to blame," the MP said.
But her comments prompted the Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram to hit back.
"What broke down in this case was ... health officers, trained doctors or nurses didn't get on board the vessel, swab passengers and take their swabs for results," Mr Outram said on March 25.
He said his officers were responsible for ensuring there was no contraband and ensuring everyone had visas. The Department of Agriculture had the biosecurity responsibility, Mr Outram said.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller revealed on Sunday there would be a criminal investigation, led by homicide detectives, and a likely coronial inquiry.
Mr Fuller said an investigation was critical to determine whether the operators of the ship, Carnival Australia, were "transparent" about ill passengers.
He also singled out the Ports Authority as doing an "exceptional job" after phone logs between the the authority and Carnival Australia suggested the ship downplayed the risk of COVID-19.
The logs show the Ports Authority had initially not allowed the ship to dock because of coronavirus fears but then overturned that decision after being led to believe that there was no virus threat.
On Wednesday, 30 detectives from State Crime, Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics and Marine Area commands were seconded to the criminal investigation dubbed Strike Force Bast.
Investigators will interview "high-priority witnesses" this week and are urging passengers with relevant information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Ms Berejiklian said the investigation would not be a drawn-out process.