South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said no one was prepared to take responsibility for the care of the nearly 1100 crew members quarantined on board after the ship return to Australia on March 19.

There have been 19 people across Australia who have died after contracting COVID-19 and the handling of the departure of passengers is under criminal investigation, as well as a special commission of inquiry.

Read more: Ruby Princess crew members speak out telling authorities they want to be tested and go home

Mr Rorris said further discussions with NSW Health officials, Minister of Health Brad Hazzard and Carnival Cruises management, showed that border force was the organisation "not on the same page".

He said it was now federal minister Peter Dutton and the Australian Border Force's responsibility to assist with the repatriation of crew members.

"This disaster has gone from bad, to worse to absolutely farcical," Mr Rorris said.

He has called on Australian Border Force "to not stand in the way of the crew being tested, treated and isolated if need be, and repatriated".

"It seems everyone is on the same page expect for Peter Dutton and Border Force," Mr Rorris said.

A Department of Home Affairs spokeswoman said, "based on the current situation, and as advised by Aspen Medical, NSW Health and Carnival Cruises who are managing the health of the crew on board, decisions around repatriation cannot be made at this time due to the risk to the Australian community and the receiving countries".

Read more: Can the cover-up be worse than the crime?

"Carnival is the single agreed point of contact for Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates enquiring about their foreign national crew on board/from the Ruby Princess."

Mr Rorris was told Carnival's medical team, which included two doctors, three nurses and a paramedic, were responsible for the care of the crew.

"That is why we have asked the health minister and NSW Police Commissioner for an urgent meeting because it seems to us that no one, who has any capacity to represent the crew, is being consulted in regard to the crew's welfare," he said.

"The International Transport Workers' Federation has that capacity."

Read more: Ruby Princess expected to depart on Sunday as commission of inquiry announced

Mr Rorris said he had had a conversation with a member of Carnival's human resources management on Wednesday, who said the cruise liner would assist crew members who wanted to leave, and were able to after their health assessment.

The comes as NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told reporters on Wednesday morning there was "mixed messages" from Carnival and Aspen Medical after NSW Police had offered to take crew members who had not tested positive to COVID-19 to the international to be flown home.

"The American, British and Canadian consulates are keen to get their people home and we happy to facilitate those transfers straight to the international airport and back home safely," Commissioner Fuller said.

"The consulates are struggling to get confirmation from Carnival that [crew members] want to come off."

Maritime Union of Australia Southern NSW branch representative Rob Patterson said the union wanted transparency from whichever agency was responsible for the ship.

He said the union wanted assurances that no crew member would leave the vessel by transport or by sea without it getting verification they were 100 per cent healthy.

"The crew members are physically and mentally not well, they want to go home and they want to be tested," he said. "That could mean they have to go into a hotel room before they fly home."

Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.