Covid-19: Melbourne towers lockdown ‘breached human rights’

About 3000 people were confined – under police guard – to their public housing units from 4 July for up to two weeks, after a state government order.

The residents were given no notice, meaning many people were left without food or medicine, the ombudsman found.

The Victorian government denies that the detention broke human rights laws.

The Victorian Ombudsman – who has no legal power but is the official investigator into government complaints – called on the government to apologise to residents for the “harm and distress caused by the immediacy of their lockdown”.

Housing Minister Richard Wynne rejected that recommendation, saying: “We make no apology for saving people’s lives.”

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/433065/covid-19-melbourne-towers-lockdown-breached-human-rights