Scott Morrison suggests federal quarantine sites in Queensland and Western Australia

Scott Morrison has written to two state leaders promising to build new quarantine hubs, and one Premier has already made a surprising move to accept the offer.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan says he will accept an offer from Scott Morrison to build a 1000-bed quarantine hub at an airport, even though he would prefer to use existing Commonwealth facilities.

The Prime Minister wrote to Mr McGowan and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Thursday with the proposal, saying the states would be required to cover operational costs.

He also confirmed a new purpose-built quarantine facility in Victoria, which was agreed to by the Commonwealth and state government earlier this month, would be located in Mickleham.

In his letter to Mr McGowan, the Prime Minister suggested a purpose-built facility at either Jandakot Airport, in Perth’s south, or a portion of land next to Perth Airport.

“The sites are of suitable size and meet the Commonwealth’s relevant site-specific key assessment criteria, including access to an international airport taking regularly scheduled international commercial passenger flights and proximity to a principle referral hospital,” he wrote.

Scott Morrison has offered to build quarantine hubs in Queensland and WA. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Mr McGowan told reporters on Friday that he would accept the offer and wanted to start construction as soon as possible.

“Obviously there’ll be a few issues along that road, but this is a good outcome and something we’ve been calling for now for a long period of time,” he said.

The Premier previously said he preferred using already established Commonwealth facilities such as the RAAF Curtin Air Base, or the Yongah Hill and Christmas Island detention centres.

But on Friday, he changed his tune.

He said the hub should have a long-term use beyond the pandemic and be transportable as emergency accommodation, such as after bushfires or floods.

“Anything that is built should have a purpose beyond this pandemic, so whether it’s for natural disasters, whether it’s accommodation that can be moved for other purposes, that’s how it should be designed,” he said.

Scott Morrison has asked WA Premier Mark McGowan to consider two sites near Perth. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tony McDonough

In Queensland, Mr Morrison has proposed a new hub at the Damascus Barracks, next to Brisbane Airport, despite previously ruling out using military bases for quarantine.

The site is a pre-existing RAAF base and located in Pinkenba, about 9km from Brisbane’s CBD.

The letter also killed off the state government’s Wellcamp proposal, which it hoped would see a purpose-built facility near Toowoomba.

Mr Morrison, who has been at loggerheads with Ms Palaszczuk over the proposal, confirmed it had been rejected, as it was not located close enough to a an active international airport or hospital.

“I appreciate the significant work that has gone into developing this (Toowoomba) proposal,” he wrote.

“It remains the priority of my government to ensure that more Australians who are overseas can safely return home.”

The Prime Minister has rejected Annastacia Palaszczuk’s proposal for a hub in Toowoomba. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

In a separate letter to Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino, Mr Morrison confirmed the state’s $200m quarantine facility would be located in Mickleham.

The Commonwealth and Victoria earlier this month signed a memorandum of understanding over the proposal, which had been narrowed down to either Mickleham or Avalon.

Mr Merlino had described Mickleham as his preference but said both sites would “work equally well”.

“Our strong argument has been we must have a Howard Springs-like alternative, a purpose-built quarantine facility for our highest risk individuals. That’s exactly what we will deliver,” he said.

The Prime Minister has faced calls to expand the number of quarantine-run facilities after the success of the Northern Territory’s Howard Springs hub in avoiding outbreaks.