Albo meets billionaire to discuss Toowoomba quarantine

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has attacked the Federal Government over its quarantine credentials after quietly meeting with a Queensland billionaire.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has quietly met with Toowoomba billionaire John Wagner in Canberra this morning to discuss the controversial Wellcamp quarantine proposal.

It followed demands for details of the proposal, put by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to the Federal Government, to be released publicly.

The Courier-Mail last week revealed the state’s original proposal had been 15 pages, including nine pages of pictures.

Wagner group’s John Wagner. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/ The Australian

Shortly following a press conference, Mr Albanese told the Parliament he had met Mr Wagner and they discussed the proposed quarantine camp near Toowoomba.

“His proposal could be up and running in 12 weeks, housing a thousand people, not requiring a single dollar of government funding to proceed with that,” he said.

“So I can’t tell you why the Morison Government hasn’t fixed quarantine, why it hasn’t sorted the vaccine rollout, why warning from experts have been ignored.”

Sources have said the details in the proposal yet to be sorted from the State Government include the cost, clinical workforce and any required specialist equipment.

The Australian Medical Association Queensland has previously said that local doctors have raised questions, including what contingency planning would be in place in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, how would local hospital capacity would be shored up and where would a suitably qualified workforce be accommodated.

Federal Member for Groom Garth Hamilton said the people of Toowoomba did not want a quarantine facility.

“Annastacia failed to sell it, so now Albo is going to have a go, but questions from my community remain the same,” he said.

“Show us the details and show the people of Toowoomba some respect.”

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Parliament today. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire

Ms Palaszczuk has said reports that the initial proposal for the facility was just 15 pages long – with nine of those filled with pictures, maps and diagrams and no clue as to how much it would cost or who would run it – were “just ridiculous”, but declined to provide further details.

She has said discussions between state and federal departments were ongoing, and quarantine was a federal government responsibility.

In stark contrast, the Victorian Government presented a 70-page costed proposal for its own purpose-built quarantine facility within 40 minutes’ drive of Melbourne’s main hospital, of which Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been supportive.

Mr Wagner declined to comment.