Mayor Paul Antonio responds to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s quarantine hub proposal

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio has revealed his feelings about the Premier’s proposal to establish a quarantine hub in Toowoomba. Here’s what he had to say:

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will put forward the cities of Toowoomba and Gladstone as potential quarantine hubs for returning travellers in a detailed proposal to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Any plans to quarantine returning overseas travellers in or around Toowoomba would involve the use of Wellcamp Airport, which has international capabilities.

Speaking after a meeting of National Cabinet yesterday afternoon, Ms Palaszczuk said she put to the PM “some options about where we could look at some alternative quarantine away from our capital city”.

She said the details of the proposal would be going formally to the PM but said National Cabinet had discussed “a number of options involving both Gladstone and Toowoomba”.

Reaction in Toowoomba has been mixed.

Toowoomba mayor Paul Antonio said he hadn’t had any contact from State or Federal Governments about the plan prior to it being announced yesterday afternoon.

“I can see where the proponents are coming from,” he said.

“If done properly it could work but then I think we really need to know the detail.

“As a broad principal, you’ve got to consider those people who need to come back to Australia, and the best possible way to achieve that.

“All that has to be put on the table. We’ve got a lot of talking to do yet – and we also have to see what our community feels about it.

“If this was done well, and I’m sure it could be, it’s an alternative worth considering.

“At the end of the day, this will be up to the Premier and the PM. We await the detail.”

Ms Palaszczuk the State Government would have to consult with the community.

“You have to remember there are a lot of Australians that are currently stranded overseas, a lot of families want their loved ones home, and we’ve got to put options on the table.”

The Premier’s Office said it was not able provide any further information yesterday.

Groom MP Garth Hamilton called on the Premier to make a trip up the range to convince the people of Toowoomba her idea of establishing a quarantine hub could be done safely.

“At the moment, we know absolutely nothing. We’ve seen a very empty shell of an announcement about it. Nothing’s on the table,” he said.

“Safety of our community is forefront of my concerns on this.

When asked whether he would be comfortable with the idea of Toowoomba becoming a quarantine hub if it was proved it could be done safely, Mr Hamilton said: “Until she presents a plan, I don’t think we can answer that. The big thing here is we don’t want another Dan Andrews hotel (saga) in the Toowoomba region.”

Originally published as Mayor Paul Antonio responds to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s quarantine hub proposal