Wellcamp quarantine hub smacks of politics, not protecting the population – analysis

For a Premier who has proven she is politically astute, going it alone to set up a quarantine hub at Wellcamp could prove to be an own goal and smacks of politics, not protecting the population, writes Matthew Killoran.

At a time the nation is moving towards opening up, more than 1.8 million jabs are being delivered a week, and a home quarantine for international travellers is being trialled in South Australia, announcing a second quarantine facility smacks of politics, not protecting the population.

It also sends a concerning message that can contribute to Queensland’s already troublesome vaccine complacency that, as Australia starts to move towards opening up, the sunshine state is bunkering down.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a purpose-built quarantine facility will be built in Toowoomba. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

For a Premier who has proven she is politically astute and has a good read of the mood of the mob, this could prove to be an own goal.

There is a growing feeling that as vaccination rates rise that it will soon be time to start easing restrictions, allowing borders to open and for families to reunite again.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has done an admirable job of keeping Queenslanders safe, but the surprise announcement construction had started on the Wellcamp quarantine facility seemingly lacks justification.

Hotel quarantine being full from domestic travellers is a problem of the state’s own making.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Wagner Corporation chairman John Wagner and director Joe Wagner at the site of a quarantine hub that will be built at Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba.

Most other states simply require home isolation for those moving within the country, while 3257 of the 5114 people and Queensland’s quarantine hotel are domestic travellers.

There is already the Pinkenba facility, to be funded by the Federal Government and operated by the State, which was originally intended to be complete by the end of the year but is now set for the first half of next year, a similar time frame proposed for Wellcamp.

Taking months to build is a far cry from the six-week build time that was posited back in January.

South Australia is trialling a home quarantine program for returning Australians which already threatens to make hotel quarantine a relic of the past.

It requires returning travellers to download an app which contacts people at random asking them to provide proof of their location within 15 minutes. If they fail to do so police will conduct a check.

Hotel quarantine for international arrivals has served an incredible purpose in keeping Australians safe at the start of the pandemic and even now.

Purpose-built facilities would have been ideal six to 12 months ago, but less so in December when 80 per cent of the population is expected to be vaccinated.

Vaccines and innovative ideas like the SA home quarantine trial are the way forward out of this pandemic.

Instead of political stunts, promoting vaccinations is the best way to keep Queenslanders safe.

Originally published as Wellcamp quarantine hub smacks of politics, not protecting the population – analysis