Editor’s view: Would-be quarantine hub cannot be wasted

There are many good causes Brisbane’s Pinkenba quarantine facility could be used for, and the Lord Mayor’s plan has merit, writes the editor.

Queensland was at first (of course) woefully unprepared for the Covid-19 pandemic, but as we get used to “living with the virus” – having moved way past lockdowns and quarantine – we now find ourselves somewhat overprepared, with not one but two quarantine facilities in the state that will soon both be gathering dust.

A year ago, in the grip of Covid-19, building a stand-alone quarantine facility seemed a good idea. Hotel quarantine was not ideal, a stopgap solution which became quasi-permanent as the pandemic dragged on. It seemed obvious that purpose-built facilities would be needed to help Australians trapped overseas return home while international borders were closed.

But bickering and delays between the state and federal governments meant nothing was done for months – before the state went it alone and did a deal to build a centre at Wellcamp near Toowoomba, while the federal government pushed on with its plans to construct one near Brisbane Airport at Pinkenba.

And so now we have two. And in the meantime vaccines have been given to most in the community and the more-contagious Omicron variant has changed the game, meaning life is inevitably returning to a new normal – and our two purpose-built facilities have been barely, if at all, used.

State taxpayers have forked out hundreds of millions of dollars for the Wellcamp facility, which remains the property of the Wagner Corporation – with the government leasing it out.

The federal Pinkenba facility is expected to cost up to $400 million once it is done, but it will remain in taxpayers’ hands and owned by the Commonwealth. And that gives it an opportunity to be repurposed and salvaged for some good use.

There are many good causes the facility could be used for, and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s idea for it to be used as emergency accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence has merit.

Cr Schrinner said: “While I’m sure there will be bureaucrats who argue this facility wasn’t designed for this purpose, cars weren’t designed to be permanent accommodation either, however that’s the tragic alternative for an alarming number of people right now. The alternative would be to allow the facility to sit empty while women and children are facing homelessness or left at risk of further.”

It is a valid point, and the kind of thinking which could turn the facility from expensive museum piece to valuable community asset.

There are of course other potential uses, whether it is emergency shelter for displaced people during natural disasters, as originally suggested, or used for other forms of crisis housing. These should be considered.

But while taking too long to make a decision may have left us with these white elephants, rushing to find a future use is also not the answer. The new Federal Albanese Government should take the time to investigate the best possible use for the former quarantine facility, while keeping it in place for future pandemics if needed.

The only thing for sure is that what cannot be allowed to happen is for the facility at Pinkenba to become a $400m white elephant.

BORDER SECURITY MATTERS

Authorities should be allowed to do whatever they need to do to protect our cattle industry from foot-and-mouth disease, which has been found in Indonesia.

Considering the potential impact on the industry – and remember that half of Australia’s cattle herd is in Queensland – the small inconvenience of human arrivals from Indonesia having to walk across sanitation foot mats at airports as part of their customs checks is nothing. It is not yet clear that the border to Indonesia should be shut, but – again – if the experts think that is necessary as the outbreak there worsens then we should be open to that eventuality.

Perhaps the first ramp-up should be a rigorous check of every piece of luggage that those coming in from Indonesia have with them.

But we should retain faith in those who protect our borders from these threats. Threats such as foot-and-mouth disease come and go, and in almost all cases our border security experts successfully protect our nation from any incursion. Let’s hope – but also trust – it will be the same this time.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here