Prime Minister not ruling out quarantine hub as talks continue

Talks are continuing over a Toowoomba quarantine hub, but the Premier and the Prime Minister are at odds over the proposal. Here’s the latest.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 05: Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a press conference in the Prime Minister's Courtyard on February 05, 2021 in Canberra, Australia. Prime Minister Morrison and national cabinet met this morning to discuss Economy and COVID-19 hotel quarantine arrangements. Victoria has reported no new Covid-19 cases as South Austraila Premier Steven Marshall confirmed that the hard border arrangement with WA is being removed immediately. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

A proposal for a quarantine hub at Wellcamp Airport is still being considered, as the Premier and Prime Minister explicitly rule out establishing a facility outside Gladstone.

Speaking after National Cabinet yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the State Government was still working with the Commonwealth over the proposal at Toowoomba.

But the Premier and Prime Minister Scott Morrison appear to be at odds with their messaging.

The PM yesterday said there was more work to be done on the Wellcamp proposal and that the Federal Government was keen to do that with the Wagner family and the State Government.

But he described the proposal as more of an outline.

“There’s a lot more to fill in. I know locally concerns have been expressed – what does this mean for the local health service and the community,” he said.

“We’ll need to work through that.”

Meanwhile Ms Palaszczuk said quarantine should be a shared responsibility and that she was “merely putting proposals” forward.

“If the Commonwealth wants to pursue that option to bring home more vulnerable Australians by charter flights, well then the ball’s now in their court,” the Premier said.

‘They would have to put in place money towards the construction of the facility, they’d have to put in place the staff.”