Analysis: Quarantine white elephant an egregious tale of pandemic politics

Handing over the Wellcamp quarantine facility, without a thing for taxpayers beyond a $220 million bill, is not just bad deal or less than stellar financial management, it is an example of bad governance, writes Matthew Killoran.

Today marks nearly the last chapter in one of the more egregious tales of how the pandemic was politicised – and how taxpayers footed the bill.

Handing over the Wellcamp quarantine facility, without a thing for taxpayers beyond a $220 million bill, is not just bad deal or less than stellar financial management.

It is an example of bad governance.

The project was announced and awarded to Wagner Group without going to tender.

John Wagner with Annastacia Palaszczuk and Steven Miles visiting the Wellcamp quarantine hub in February 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

There were questions asked on how potentially infectious passengers would be safely transferred by bus from Brisbane airport to the quarantine facility two hours away.

A joint state-federal quarantine facility at Pinkenba had already been announced just one week earlier.

Talk had already begun about opening borders when the announcement was made to build Wellcamp – and it did lift for Australian citizens at least within months.

And, of course, despite the amount of taxpayer funds spent on the facility, it is now reverting to the Wagners to be used as accommodation for agricultural workers and eventually accommodation for the Wellcamp Entertainment Precinct.

It should be made clear that the Wagners aren’t at fault here. They were tasked to do a job and they did it.

Even at the announcement of the state quarantine facility, it seemed little more than an attempt to keep a politically advantageous fight going with then Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre at Wellcamp has reverted to private hands. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The worst of the pandemic was over, it is questionable as to whether the 730 people who stayed there needed to or if other, less costly arrangements could have been made.

A major difference between the Wellcamp facility and the Pinkenba one is that the latter will remain in taxpayer-hands for future use.

The Queensland Audit Office’s probe into the facility, expected to be finalised next month or in June, will make for interesting reading.

But, it won’t get taxpayers their money back.