Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki slams Palaszczuk government over handling of Wellcamp quarantine hub

Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki has labelled the state government ‘contemptuous’ of the people of the Darling Downs over their handling of the Wellcamp quarantine hub.

Deputy Opposition leader and Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki has slammed the state government’s decision to forge ahead with a quarantine facility at Toowoomba, describing the decision as “contemptuous of the Queensland taxpayer and the people of the Darling Downs”.

Speaking on the floor of Queensland parliament on Tuesday, Mr Janetzki said the history of the facility highlighted the arrogance of the Palaszczuk government.

“One would have thought that the government would have spoken with the health department. No,” he said.

“One would have thought that it would have spoken with the police to work out how many police officers would be necessary. Nope.

David Janetzki speaks during question time at Queensland’s Parliament House. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

“One would have thought that it would come and talk to the (Queensland) Ambulance Service to work out how the arrangements would be made, but not even that.

“Did it have the courtesy to even notify the mayor of our region? No, it did not.

“It did not matter whatever it was doing with the quarantine facility; it was contemptuous of the taxpayers of Queensland and it was contemptuous with the people of the Darling Downs.”

Mr Janetzki said while it had been revealed that the government had spent $50 million on building the hub, the total cost to taxpayers for the Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre was unknown.

“What we know is that the government ignored procurement and probity requirements,” he said.

“Its own 13-page document which would guide how procurement and probity would be undertaken in this state for engaging in a contract of this nature was completely ignored.

“We know now that (public affairs company) Anacta got 20 meetings for its client Aspen Medical and of those 20 meetings 15 were in fact commercial in confidence, but it did not just get the meetings; it ended up getting it a $56 million contract without a tender. There are similar questions around other appointments on to this contract as well.”

At a site visit to the facility last week, Deputy Premier Steven Miles said it was “very easily able to identify what would represent good value” after hiring more than 20 hotels for their quarantine program.

He also defended the lack of tender process for contracts.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the accommodation hub would be put to good use, including for housing unvaccinated international arrivals, seasonal workforces whose vaccinations don’t meet TGA requirements and for people needing to isolate but who cannot at home.

“We don’t know what’s coming around the corner, and this facility will have a whole range of uses,” she said.

Originally published as Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki slams Palaszczuk government over handling of Wellcamp quarantine hub