Wellcamp’s secrets should be revealed now: Crisafulli

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli is demanding the full cost of the taxpayer-funded Wellcamp quarantine facility should be revealed, saying there is no reason to keep it a secret.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli says there is no reason why the cost of the taxpayer-funded Wellcamp quarantine facility should be kept secret.

The state government has repeatedly insisted it can’t reveal the bill because of commercial-in-confidence – despite the Toowoomba centre having not gone to tender.

A government spokesman on Monday told The Courier-Mail that private sector companies needed certainty their commercial-in-confidence information could be kept private.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Josh Wonning

But Mr Crisafulli slammed the government, insisting it had a duty to explain to Queenslanders how much its highly-touted quarantine hub was costing.

“I can’t see a reason why that deal could possibly be commercial-in-confidence,” he said.

“I don’t see how either the taxpayer or the government could possibly benefit. 

“I heard the Deputy Premier say that it’s a great deal for taxpayers – I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a government not want to publicise a great deal.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles at the Wellcamp quarantine centre. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles on Sunday said the “lease arrangement represents good value” when compared to costs incurred from the state’s hotel quarantine program.

The government will lease the Toowoomba facility off Wagner Corporation for 12 months with the option to extend.

While the government has cited commercial-in-confidence for various projects in the past, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in September last year revealed taxpayers had spent $4.6m on securing the NRL grand final.

A government spokesman said it was common for development agreements to contain obligations to keep certain information private.

“Private sector companies need certainty that their commercial-in-confidence information can be kept confidential,” he said.

“Many companies are also sensitive to their internal business affairs, IP and margins being available to the market and other companies.”

Wagner Corporation chairman John Wagner has previously said the facility would cost less than a third of similar centres across the country.

The government was last week reluctant to provide details around the facility, which will house unvaccinated international arrivals, with both Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath saying the Deputy Premier would provide details this week.

Five hundred beds are expected to come online in the coming weeks, while the remaining 500 will be available during the “first part” of 2022.

Mr Miles on Sunday revealed authorities were still working out who would use the facility.

The government last year said international students would be the first group to stay there, however Queensland is expected to hit its 90 per cent double vaccination target later this week which will remove the requirement for vaccinated international arrivals to quarantine.