Federal Government says it is waiting on Queensland to ‘further define’ proposed quarantine camp at Wellcamp, Toowoomba

The proposal for a quarantine hub outside Toowoomba has been floating around for more than a month, and the Federal Government has responded to questions over what is holding it up.

Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Matray

The Federal Government has responded to the ongoing saga of the proposed COVID-19 quarantine facility outside Toowoomba, arguing it needs “further detail” from its state counterparts.

The controversial plan, devised by Wagner Corporation at the request of the Queensland Government, would allow international travellers to fly into Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport and be immediately taken the facility without any community contact.

Its future remains in limbo following the Greater Brisbane lockdown last week, with both Deputy Premier Steven Miles and Groom MP Garth Hamilton exchanging barbs over which level of government was holding up the project.

Now the Department of Health has responded, with a spokesman saying it was still waiting on more information from the State Government.

“The Department of Health is assisting the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in its work with the Queensland Government to further define the Queensland proposal for a quarantine facility in Toowoomba,” the statement said.

“Further questions should be referred to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who are co-ordinating the whole-of-government assessment and approach.”

The State Government has previously said it has given the necessary information to the Prime Minister’s office.

“What we need to hear from the Commonwealth is: Are you interested or not?” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said early last month.

The proposal earned some backlash from the community, including Toowoomba developer Clive Berghofer, who launched a petition that earned thousands of signatures.

Mayor Paul Antonio has neither endorsed nor condemned the idea, but suggested Australia and Queensland needed to do quarantining differently than it had previously.

Originally published as Federal Government says it is waiting on Queensland to ‘further define’ proposed quarantine camp at Wellcamp, Toowoomba