‘Unlimited powers’ for investigators to uncover who was responsible for the Ruby Princess fiasco that killed 18 and is responsible for more than 700 coronavirus infections
- NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced a Special Commission of Inquiry
- So far, 18 of the doomed cruise ship's passengers have died from coronavirus
- Around 700 of the cruise's 2,600 passengers later tested positive for COVID-19
- Despite fears two people had become unwell, they were allowed to disembark
New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian vowed to leave 'no stone unturned' in the inquiry, surrounding the events which allowed the ship to dock unchecked.
After contracting the deadly COVID-19 onboard the doomed cruise liner, so far 18 passengers have died.
Many more have become infected after coming into contact with passengers, who were able to disembark with no medical checks and travel across Australia.
Around 700 of its passengers have since tested positive for COVID-19, with many more put at risk.
The Ruby Princess is seen docked at Port Kembla, 80km south of Sydney, on April 12 (pictured)
'The inquiry will be led by eminent barrister Bret Walker SC,' NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
'He has unlimited powers and he can use those powers how he wants to use them.
'That’s a matter for him.'
Mr Walker is one of Sydney's top lawyers, and only last week helped secure the release of his client, Cardinal George Pell, from prison after his sex abuse convictions were quashed.
The report into the Ruby Princess will be delivered to state officials within four months.
'I’m looking forward to that. Everybody wants answers, everybody wants to get to the bottom of that issue,' she said.
'It is important that answers are provided quickly for the people of NSW.
'As I have said before, we will leave no stone unturned until we find out exactly what happened.'
Mr Walker will have the extraordinary powers of a special commissioner to examine all matters involving the cruise ship, including its departure and arrival, and the actions of all agencies and parties involved.
'Discussions with the police commissioner and the state coroner have made clear to me their expected investigation timelines, and I have decided that the quickest path to answers is through a powerful and independent inquiry,' Ms Berejiklian said.
The police will continue their own criminal inquiry, and the coroner's office will also continue its investigation. 
Hundreds of holidaymakers can be seen crammed together applauding the staff from the gold-trimmed staircase on board the Ruby Princess, unaware of the fact coronavirus had already made its way onto the liner
The fiasco sparked a bitter blame game between NSW Health officials and the Border Force, who both said the other had given clearance for it to dock.
It was recently revealed that the Ruby Princess issued an urgent mayday call for an ambulance for two of its passengers presenting with coronavirus-like symptoms.
This was 24 hours before the ship was allowed to dock in Sydney, but it was still allowed to unload its passengers in Circular Quay.
The government had announced a 30-day ban on cruise arrivals just the day before.
Even the two Australian passengers who were presenting signs of 'upper respiratory tract infections' were allowed to leave the ship before their test results were known.
It comes after a shocking picture showed passengers crammed together on the ship, not knowing that coronavirus was spreading between them.
Hundreds of well-dressed passengers on board the luxury cruise are seen crammed together as they applaud staff.
There were unaware that coronavirus had already made its way onto the liner - likely through a crew member working in the kitchen - and was spreading like wildfire.
Gladys Berejiklian (pictured announcing the investigation on Wednesday) said no stone would be left unturned
The luxury liner, which departed Sydney on March 8 and returned on March 19, is linked to 18 of Australia's coronavirus deaths (pictured at Port Kembla on April 6)
NSW Police show detectives in personal protective equipment outside the Ruby Princess cruise ship at Port Kembla on April 8 (pictured)
It also claimed crew members were tested by health authorities before the ship began its journey on March 8.
On Monday, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said a crew member serving food may have been responsible for the outbreak.
'At this stage we would think that it was probably a crew member working in probably the galley, someone who is serving food, someone who would get across a number of passengers for it to spread like it has,' he told reporters.
'But again, that is not proven as fact yet, but that would seem to be the most obvious point of transmission is someone who is handling food on behalf of multiple hundreds of people.'
The coronial investigation was launched after passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney without adequate health checks on March 19 (pictured on April 6 in Port Kembla)
Fallout from the Ruby Princess debacle is continuing to be felt around Australia with two Tasmanian hospitals having to be shut down because of infections caused by passengers.
The Ruby Princess has been docked in Port Kembla, near Wollongong south of Sydney, for the investigation. About 1,000 crew members remain quarantined on the ship.
About 90 crew members have reported coronavirus-like symptoms, and 66 have tested positive for the illness.
There are now reports that even the commodore of Princess Cruises, Giorgio Pomata, has been exposed to the virus.
The crew member who served meals to the Mr Pomata was among those who recently tested positive to coronavirus.
It comes amid reports that the ship will finally leave NSW on Sunday, after being stocked up on fuel and provisions.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said: 'We are working with Carnival Cruises and Border Force and NSW Health and Aspen (Medical) looking for a hopeful departure date of this Sunday.
'(As for the ship) they will need fuel, they will need provisions and the required amount of crew members, including the captain.'
There are some reports that the captain is in isolation.
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