In September, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s told the hotel quarantine inquiry that he had no knowledge of the use of private security guards in the operation of the ill-fated program and found out through media reports.

Last week, The Age revealed an email chain showing Professor Sutton had authorised a response to the federal government in March. It said Victoria would rely on private security at quarantine hotels.

Another Health Department email placed Professor Sutton at the top of a "strict chain of command" for the quarantine system.

Health Department lawyers revealed that Professor Sutton told them they did not need to provide these emails to the inquiry.

In this episode, Sunday Age editor David King joins The Age's investigative reporter Richard Baker to discuss Victoria's hotel quarantine inquiry.