The Age has somehow contacted and obtained quotes from a man in intensive care with COIVD19. Does that sound strange to you? Let's take a look. A thread #auspol #springst #COVID19 #thisisnotjournalism https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-feel-like-a-criminal-traveller-says-he-told-authorities-about-nebuliser-20210212-p571ze.html

How did they even contact him? How did they know which hospital? Revealing his location would be illegal. If they called nearby hospitals, it would be illegal for the hospital to confirm if he was a patient. Was the law broken or did the patient or his partner contact the media?

If the patient contacted the media himself, how did he manage to do so? We’ve been told he was struggling to breathe and in ICU. I’d imagine that if I was in ICU with COVID, then I would be focused on my recovery rather than talking to The Age or The SMH.

. @MeljCunningham this is your article. Was it you who spoke with the patient? Did he contact you? If not, how did you find him? Was he interviewed over the phone or in person? He has COVID so surely over the phone? These questions must be answered by @theage.

How? The SMH couldn’t verify anything from Sydney unless it was emailed to them. Who gave them access to hospital admission documents? Admission records are covered by privacy laws. Who is the Senior Health source? Do they work at the hospital or in quarantine? @MeljCunningham?

Emma Cassar confirmed today that there is no evidence for this claim. The article and the patient provide no evidence other than the patient’s word. Who should we believe?

How is a man in INTENSIVE CARE capable of being interviewed? Surely patients in ICU are resting and not chatting with journalists? People have died from COVID when in ICU. Did The Age consider the condition of the patient or does getting the story come before basic human decency?

There is no complaint record nor did he claim to have made one. This man spent extra money for business class to protect his daughter - which I perfectly understand. Why would this same man accept a dirty room (a health risk) without complaint? This doesn’t add up for me.

Is getting the story and the attack on hotel quarantine more important than reporting on the processes and procedures of HQ? There aren’t any articles informing the public of what forms travellers sign, how their interviews are done, what information sheets they are given etc.

Investigating this information would be beneficial to the public. That’s the job of journalism, working in the public interest rather than ambulance chasing like this article does.

Are the procedures and process at HQ up to scratch? I’ll be putting in a FOI to HQ to obtain what information is given to travellers and what conditions they must agree to. It’s time for journalists to start doing their jobs. I shouldn’t have to do this. I’m not a journalist.

I’m not making accusations. I’m simply asking questions. This article gives more questions than answers. I’m not convinced The Age spoke directly to the patient. I don’t see how they were able to contact him. I don’t see how he was well enough to be interviewed whilst in the ICU.

What evidence do we have that the interview even took place? Don’t many journalists record their interviews? Many would be interested in hearing such a recording.

It just doesn't add up for me. I’ll let you all make up your own mind though.