State drafts up specifications for Pinkenba quarantine facility proposed by Federal Government

The State Government has drafted specifications for a 1000-room quarantine facility near Brisbane Airport, but Annastacia Palaszczuk is not giving up on plans for a similar project near Toowoomba.

Queensland would be able to scrap its hotel quarantine system if two proposed dedicated quarantine facilities get off the ground, according to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Her comments come after the state government drafted up specifications for a quarantine site at Pinkenba, where the federal government has offered to pay for the construction of the facility.

The Pinkenba facility – first floated by the Morrison government – would be able hold 1450 returning international travellers across 1000 rooms under plans drafted by the Palaszczuk government.

But the Premier has not abandoned her push for another site to be built at Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba, despite persistent objections to the proposal by the federal government.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Asked why she won’t give up on the Wellcamp proposal, Ms Palaszczuk claimed the facility could be built in two months.

“It’s fully costed, it’s ready to go,” she said.

“Now this one in Pinkenba is not going to be up and running (until) ... early next year.

“And the proposal in Toowoomba could be up and running in two months and we know that there will be flights that would be willing to fly there.”

Ms Palaszczuk said if both sites at Pinkenba and Toowoomba went ahead, then there would be no need for a hotel quarantine system in Queensland.

The Premier confirmed that the State would pay for the day to day operations of the Pinkenba site – with the Commonwealth committed to funding the construction costs.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the state government remained committed to the proposed quarantine facility at Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba.

“We think it has distinct advantages – not the least of which the planning is already done and ready to go,” Mr Miles said.

“But we have agreed to progress along with the Commonwealth planning work for a facility at Pinkenba.”

In a major step towards getting a fit for purpose quarantine facility near Brisbane Airport off the ground, the state government has drafted up specifications for the site at the Damascus Barracks as part of an “around the clock” effort.

It comes just a week after Prime Minister Scott Morrison offered to pay for the facility near the airport – and amid a turbulent fortnight of Covid outbreaks, as the state grapples with a “very full” hotel quarantine system.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said a fit-for-purpose quarantine facility at Pinkenba, working in conjunction with another quarantine facility in regional Queensland, could be a “game changer” in keeping Covid out of the community.

“Since September, I’ve argued that we need an alternative to hotel quarantine,” the Premier said. “It was great to see that finally, the Prime Minister is starting to listen. We’ve worked around the clock with the federal government on this proposal.”

Under the proposal, the Damascus Barracks site – suggested by the federal government – would be able to cater to up to 1450 people across 1000 rooms.

The State Government would want the facility to initially cater to about 800 people per fortnight – roughly the equivalent of two Australian government facilitated charter flights per week – as a starting point.

Federal Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the federal government welcomed Queensland’s acceptance to participate in a “joint assessment” of the Commonwealth’s suggested location.

“The Prime Minister wrote to the Premier to indicate the federal government’s willingness to consider a partnership on any proposals that meet the key assessment criteria for stand-alone quarantine accommodation, which requires proximity to appropriate hospitals and international airport facilities,” Senator Birmingham said.

“Those feasibility study works have now commenced and at the completion of those investigations, the federal and Queensland governments will seek to finalise the size and operational arrangements for any facilities.”

The Palaszczuk government has not abandoned its push for a quarantine site in a regional area of Queensland, following months of fighting between the State and Commonwealth over the proposal at Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba

Ms Palaszczuk spent last week calling for a reduction in the number of international arrivals into the country – with the arrival cap later halved under a decision made by national cabinet.

The new cap will come into effect from July 14.

Federal Finance Minister Simon Birmingham. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski on Sunday described Queensland’s hotel quarantine system as “still very full”.

“1832 domestic passengers arrived (on Saturday) and we put 59 of them into quarantine and we refused entry to four,” he said.

“We had 268 international arrivals yesterday (Saturday) which brings our total hotel quarantine numbers to 3262 across 16 hotels.

“We are managing at this stage but obviously the message to all of those people coming across our borders, make sure that you have the right passes in play.”

Meanwhile, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has revealed that more than 4300 Queenslanders are currently in home quarantine following the recent outbreaks.

She warned they would be subject to random compliance checks to ensure they were following the rules.

“They can’t go to work, they can’t go to school, they can’t go grocery shopping, they can’t go out to get medicines,” Ms D’Ath said.

“Our system support is still there so if you need assistance to get medicines, to get groceries, other types of support, our staff can assist.”

Originally published as State drafts up specifications for Pinkenba quarantine facility proposed by Federal Government