Analysis: Hotel quarantine a massive waste at a time we can least afford it

Because of politicking, Queensland has an empty quarantine facility, another yet to open and a wasteful hotel quarantine system, writes Domanii Cameron.

Perhaps if the state and federal governments had actually worked together last year to establish the Pinkenba quarantine facility in Brisbane, then this wouldn’t have been a big deal.

But because of politicking, Queensland has what’s essentially an empty quarantine facility in Toowoomba, a quarantine facility in Brisbane that is yet to open and a multimillion-dollar bill for unused hotel rooms.

No one is denying that having a back up plan to accommodate people in need, like in a hotel, is a good idea.

But when the cost of living is going through the roof, taxpayers have spent $40m for hotel quarantine that just 12 people required since February, and what’s rumoured to be more than $200m for Wellcamp (that let’s not forget is temporary) located 145km from Brisbane.

And we have 500 beds at the Commonwealth’s Pinkenba site that are yet to come online for an undisclosed amount.

Co-operation and planning matters – especially when valuable taxpayers’ dollars are involved.