Pinkenba quarantine facility: Health Minister Yvette D’Ath questions if it will go ahead

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has questioned whether the commonwealth’s Pinkenba quarantine facility is going to open, claiming it was “a bit of a hypothetical” while insisting Wellcamp was better value because “it’s up and running”.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has questioned whether the commonwealth’s Pinkenba quarantine facility is going to open, claiming it was “a bit of a hypothetical” while insisting Wellcamp was better value because “it’s up and running”.

The sensational comments came as the state government was again forced to defend its Toowoomba quarantine facility and the unknown amount taxpayers have forked out for it.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday revealed her government would release the total project cost if the federal government released the price of Pinkenba.

But Ms D’Ath on Thursday did not commit to releasing the budget, saying it would depend on discussions with Wagner Corporation – who is the landlord.

Asked why the government had chipped in $48.8 million for capital costs, when that didn’t include the 12-month lease and when the government didn’t own the land, Ms D’Ath said because the government understood the benefit of moving away from hotel quarantine.

Pictures of old sheds at the Damascus Barracks where the federal government’s quarantine facility would be.

“And we know that this was the best way to manage any cases, including not just positive cases,” she said.

It’s not known how or what authorities will decide about whether people will be taken to Wellcamp or Pinkenba – which will be located close to Brisbane Airport – with Ms D’Ath instead saying, “Well let’s wait and see if it ever opens”.

“I consider Pinkenba as a bit of a hypothetical right now, you can ask the Commonwealth about that,” she said.

“But honestly, let’s wait and see how good it is, whether it’s better than Wellcamp, I suspect it won’t be, and which is the appropriate facility to use, but Wellcamp is not going to go to waste.”

Pinkenba is on track to be completed by the end of April, and is expected to cost between $350-$400 million.

Ms D’Ath seized upon Wagner Corporation John Wagner’s comments from Thursday morning when he claimed Pinkenba wouldn’t be ready in April.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath. Pics Tara Croser.

“It’s (Wellcamp) better value because it’s up and running,” Ms D’Ath said.

“ … Wagner said this morning, it’s probably going to be maybe April, when that’s open.

“So what’s the point of sitting back and waiting and hoping.

“That’s going to clash with the federal election.

“It’s highly possible it just doesn’t ever open.

“So I’m not going to wait for the Commonwealth, we have waited for two years for them to get off their backsides and help us with hotel quarantine, and managing isolation, and they’ve done nothing.”

Speaking on The Today Show, Mr Wagner questioned how much Pinkenba would cost.

“There’s no way in the wide world it will be open in April,” he said.

“But it will be a very expensive operation.

“The federal government has decided to proceed with it and so be it.”

He said Wellcamp was “definitely good value for money”.

“It should be cost neutral,” he said.