Taxpayers to fork out $13m for empty quarantine facility in Western Australia

Millions of dollars will be spent by one state government to maintain a commonwealth quarantine facility that remains empty.

Taxpayers will fork out $13m to maintain the federal government’s quarantine facility in Western Australia even though the building may remain empty for years.

The eye-watering sum will be spent on buying and installing furniture, facility management, security and maintenance.

Serco has been contracted to complete the work on the 500-bed facility.

A state government spokesperson said it had been a “late decision” 18 months into the pandemic for the Morrison government to “take some responsibility for quarantine” and commission the facility.

“The Centre for National Resilience in Bullsbrook is owned by the federal government. It was originally slated to be opened in March,” they said.

“The state and commonwealth governments are still actively managing the Covid-19 pandemic and we need to be prepared for the emergence of any new sub-variants that could lead to a change in pandemic management, like quarantine requirements.”

WA Premier Mark McGowan has been critical of the Morrison government’s delay with the facility. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Under an agreement with the commonwealth, the state government previously agreed to commission and operate the facility for the first 12 months.

“The state has contracted Serco to complete this work under a care and maintenance model so that we are prepared to use the facility in the first 12 months,” the spokesperson said.

“The value of the contract is estimated at $13m, which includes the buying and installing of necessary furniture, facility management, security and maintenance.

“While construction is expected to be completed soon, the handover to the state is planned to occur in October.”

As previously flagged, there are several options being explored for the facility.

That includes short-term accommodation for international and interstate skilled labour, beds for people at risk of homelessness and emergency accommodation for natural disaster relief.

“No final decision has been made about an alternative use, with consultation occurring,” the spokesperson said.

The hotel quarantine cost in WA was about $600m up until July this year.