NSW premier orders new probe into Ruby Princess
An eminent Sydney barrister has been granted unlimited powers to investigate the disembarkation of the Ruby Princess cruise ship, which is linked to 18 coronavirus deaths and hundreds of cases across Australia.
The NSW government yesterday established a special commission of inquiry into the Ruby Princess debacle, to be led by Bret Walker SC.
The inquiry will report back within four months, with NSW police and coronial investigations running in parallel to the probe but likely to finish afterwards.
Walker – who also oversaw the 2007 special commission of inquiry into Sydney Ferries and recently led Cardinal George Pell’s successful criminal appeal to the High Court – will examine the ship’s departure and arrival.
He will also look into the role of all relevant NSW and federal agencies, as well as cruise ship operator Carnival Cruises, in the ship’s disembarkation.
The Ruby Princess departed Sydney on March 8 for New Zealand and returned on March 19. Some 2700 passengers were permitted to disembark the ship without adequate health checks, which border authorities blame on NSW Health.
Walker will have unlimited powers in the execution of his duty, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, and would not receive direction from government or bureaucracy. He would receive all relevant information already garnered by NSW Police.
‘‘He is an eminent barrister, he knows and is aware of the powers he has. It’s a matter for him on how he proceeds,’’ Berejiklian told reporters.
‘‘The NSW Police investigation is now focused on matters of a criminal nature . . . therefore we have to let the police do what they do.’’
Police Commissioner Mick Fuller yesterday said the ship could leave Australia by Sunday after authorities last week seized its black box and conducted interviews.
He said police had offered to help repatriate some crew members on the Ruby Princess but operator Carnival had been slow to respond. There are now some 140 crew aboard the ship with confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Another 12 crew members have been evacuated to NSW hospitals for treatment.
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said there were 16 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the state, taking the total to 2886.
Some 29 people are being treated in intensive care but there were no new deaths recorded overnight, with the NSW toll remaining at 26.
Chant said NSW Health would comply fully with Walker’s inquiries.
Authorities meanwhile are ramping up Covid-19 testing as more residents and staff members test positive for the virus at a Sydney aged care facility.