NSW governments would welcome commonwealth quarantine facility

NSW has called on the Morrison Government to create a new fit-for-purpose quarantine facility in the state to supplement its hotel quarantine system.

NSW has called on the Morrison Government to create a new fit-for-purpose quarantine facility in the state to supplement its hotel quarantine system.

In light of an agreement between the Victorian and federal governments to build a quarantine facility at Avalon, NSW confirmed it would also be open to a similar project.

“NSW would welcome a quarantine facility owned and operated by the commonwealth as a way of increasing quarantine capacity,” a government spokesman said.

“To put things into perspective, at least 10 such facilities as that being built in Melbourne would be required to match what NSW is already doing.

NSW has confirmed it would welcome a quarantine facility. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

The Berejiklian government said about 5000 people were currently within the state’s hotel quarantine system and there was no ability for it to operate above this number.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said it was open to the idea.

“We would welcome a proposal that conforms to the very clear criteria that has been publicly set out at national cabinet,” the spokesman said.

But federal Health Minister Greg Hunt poured cold water on the idea Sunday afternoon, saying NSW was not seeking a new facility at this time.

“The Prime Minister has been in contact with the New South Wales Premier, and has indicated that not at this point in time are they seeking any such additional facility,” Mr Hunt said.

“They have done the heavy lifting on behalf of the nation, they have done an incredible job in bringing people home, and bringing people home safely.

“So the PM has confirmed with the Premier that at this point they’re not seeking any additional quarantine facility New South Wales.”

It is understood no proposal for a NSW facility has been lodged.

Queensland is also lobbying for a Howard Springs-type facility.

Deputy federal Labor leader Richard Marles warned on Sunday further lockdowns could occur if quarantine facilities were not being rolled out nationally.

“These (hotel) facilities are not fit for purpose,” Mr Marles said on ABC’s Insiders.

NSW is calling on the Morrison Government to create a quarantine facility in NSW after it signed a memorandum of understanding with Victoria to build one in Melbourne's Avalon. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“(The Morrison government) should have been accepting their responsibility for the level (of) quarantine; instead, we have seen them play catch-up footy.”

Mr Marles said no Covid-19 outbreaks had occurred in Howard Springs, with the majority of outbreaks being a result of inadequate ventilation in hotels.

“These are facilities (that) have a single ventilation system in one building, which is leading to people contracting the disease in those hotels and leading to the outbreaks that we have been experiencing,” he said.

“All roads lead back to a failure in managing quarantine in this country.”

The memorandum of understanding between the federal and Victorian governments will see a quarantine facility built that can house up to 500 people.

The federal government wants Victoria to use these facilities on top of its hotel quarantine system.