Health Minister Yvette D’Ath responds to Clive Berghofer-sponsored Wellcamp petition
Despite garnering 8200 signatures against the establishment of a COVID-19 quarantine hub at Wellcamp, the proposal is still on the cards, according to the State Government.
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Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath has responded to a petition against the establishment of a COVID-19 quarantine hub for returned travellers at Wellcamp Airport.
Acknowledging receipt of the petition organised by property developer and philanthropist Clive Berghofer and its 8276 signatures, Ms D’Ath said “the establishment of a regional quarantine facility, such as Wellcamp, would significantly bolster Queensland’s ability to safely accommodate international arrivals”.
“However, the establishment of any facility is dependent on operational support from the Australian Government and agreement from local, government and industry stakeholders, along with consideration of local operational issues.”
Ms D’Ath said conversations around the potential establishment of a quarantine facility at Wellcamp and “in-depth consideration of the challenges and opportunities associated with this option are ongoing”.
“No decision has been made at this point in time to operate a regional quarantine facility at Wellcamp or in any other location in Queensland.”
Mr Berghofer, who organised the petition, said sending the problem of quarantining returned travellers to Toowoomba only benefited Brisbane.
“She’s talking about talking to people – she’s not saying she’s going to talk to people in Toowoomba,” Mr Berghofer said.
“People outside Toowoomba want it in Toowoomba, it gets the monkey off their back.”
Mr Berghofer also took aim at Toowoomba Regional Council’s stance on the issue.
“Our council hasn’t come out and said we don’t want it. They said they can’t talk,” he said.
“That’s rubbish. If you’re game enough to talk, you talk.”
Even if a quarantine facility was built in Toowoomba, Mr Berghofer argued that COVID-19 would still be a problem in Brisbane.
“So why spread it to other places unnecessarily?”
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Originally published as Health Minister Yvette D’Ath responds to Clive Berghofer-sponsored Wellcamp petition
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