Dad Sues Victoria After Daughter's Death in Quarantine

A father is pursuing legal action against the state of Victoria, claiming unlawful detention during a period of immense personal tragedy. Hayden Flinn was working in Hong Kong in May 2021 when he learned of his 13-year-old daughter's sudden death in Melbourne.

Upon arriving in Australia with his grieving son, the pair were placed in mandatory hotel quarantine for two weeks. Flinn alleges this detention prevented him from seeing his daughter's body and supporting his wife as they planned the funeral.

The corporate lawyer contends that officials failed to properly assess his circumstances, vaccination status, and the low risk posed by travelers from Hong Kong. He is seeking damages for loss of liberty and mental distress.

Emails exchanged between quarantine staff and the Health Department reveal the family's pleas for an exemption on compassionate grounds. Despite documented distress and pleas from mental health professionals, the family's request to quarantine at home was denied.

Flinn and his son were eventually released from quarantine on May 17, 2021, after completing their 14-day isolation. His daughter was laid to rest nearly three weeks after her passing.

The state's legal team denies any wrongdoing, maintaining that decisions were reasonable and justified under the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic. They assert that Flinn chose to remain in quarantine due to the welfare support provided.