‘Weasel words, spin and bias’: Officials slammed at Ruby Princess inquiry over report that justified allowing COVID-carrying passengers into community
- A review into the Ruby Princess fiasco was labelled ‘weasel words, spin and bias’
- The cruise ship has become the largest source of COVID-19 cases in Australia
- More than 2,600 passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney on March 19
- Commissioner Bret Walker SC said the report was ‘spin’ and a form of dishonesty
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A review into the Ruby Princess fiasco has been slammed as ‘weasel words, spin and bias,’ but New South Wales Health officials believe it was an ‘honest’ assessment about what went wrong.
The cruise ship has been the largest source of COVID-19 cases around Australia, with links to at least 22 deaths.
More than 2,600 passengers were allowed to disembark at Sydney’s Circular Quay on March 19 despite widespread respiratory illness on board, and before the results of two coronavirus swabs were known.
The NSW Health review into its handling of the debacle came under attack at a special commission of inquiry which continued on Thursday.
A review into the Ruby Princess coronavirus fiasco has been slammed as ‘weasel words, spin and bias,’ while New South Wales Health claim it was an ‘honest’ account of what went wrong
Some local residents came to wave off the Ruby Princess on April 23 (pictured) in Woolongong, as it finally set sail for the Philippines
The document, ordered by Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant and marked as ‘draft’ and ‘confidential’, was emailed to NSW Chief Human Biosecurity Officer Dr Sean Tobin, who suggested changes, the ABC reported.
Despite only half of the 48 influenza tests returning positive, the report claimed flu was the most likely cause of the illness on board, rather than COVID-19.
Commissioner Bret Walker SC blasted the report.
‘Let me be blunt. Spin is a form of dishonesty. Half truth perhaps. Weasel words, certainly. But all with a bias to producing a particular intended effect on the reader, regardless of the merits,’ Mr Walker said.
‘Something that an impartial public servant would have nothing to do with. Do you agree?’
Dr Tobin insisted it was an ‘honest’ version of events, but admitted the wording could have been better.
The document read: ‘The risk assessment process balanced the level of risk against the benefit of removing passengers from a cruise ship on which the virus could be circulating’.
At the time the Ruby Princess docked, 104 passengers were reporting signs of acute respiratory illness, associated with COVID-19, and two were awaiting test results
The report also suggested quarantining at home was ‘a much safer option’ than leaving passengers on a ship. Pictured: Day three of Ruby Princess crew repatriation in April
The report also suggested quarantining at home was ‘a much safer option’ than leaving passengers on a ship.
But Mr Walker found this to be ‘distracting PR’.
At the time the Ruby Princess docked, 104 passengers were reporting signs of acute respiratory illness, associated with COVID-19, and two were awaiting test results.
Despite this, they were allowed to spill out into Circular Quay, potentially infecting thousands of people as the disease was spreading rapidly before most lockdown measures were put in place.