Questions raise over future of Wellcamp hub as border restrictions ease

As of Wednesday, international arrivals won’t need to be vaccinated to get into Australia. We can reveal how much it has cost to host each guest at Toowoomba's "quarantine hub", as more questions are raised over its future. 

The future of the Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre at Wellcamp has come into question after the Federal Government dropped the last of the Covid restrictions on international arrivals.

On Wednesday – 152 days since the quarantine hub at Wellcamp opened its gates – Australia’s customs officials will drop asking returning Australians or international visitors about their vaccination status.

It signals an effective return to normal for overseas travel more than two years after the Covid pandemic landed on Australian shores.

In the past five months, as few as 713 people have used the Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre Wellcamp Covid hub to quarantine or isolate. Just 18 people are staying at the site today.

While the State Government has never confirmed the cost to build and run the centre, a figure of $200 million per year has been widely reported.

When asked for clarity, the State Government has routinely cited a commercial-in-confidence consideration in place with the Wagner Corporation which built the centre and leased it back to the state.

If the number is accurate then it equates to a cost of about $280,500 for each person staying at the centre.

A spokeswoman for the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning said the role of the hub had shifted to providing a safe place for at-risk people to isolate if they contracted Covid.

“The primary purpose of the Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre remains an isolation facility for Covid-positive but otherwise well individuals without suitable alternative accommodation,” she said.

“There is a range of reasons that guests are supported at QRAC, including, but not limited to, they may not have suitable or safe accommodation to support their isolation needs, they may live with someone who is immunocompromised, or they may have travelled from interstate and not have permanent residence in Queensland.”

As of last week, the Queensland Police Service withdrew its sworn officers from guarding the facility after months of negotiations with the State Government and the Queensland Police Union.

The Protective Services Group will take over security arrangements, under the QPS.

The centre is open to Covid-positive travellers who become stranded, homeless people with Covid, patients who live with large families or those with significant health needs and requiring disability support.

It is also open to victims of domestic violence who don’t have a safe place to isolate, but there have been calls to open the centre to a wider range of people who are not affected by Covid.

This includes crisis accommodation for domestic violence victims and those at risk of homelessness.

Wagner Corporation chairman John Wagner. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Wagner Corporation chairman John Wagner said he was still in discussions with the State Government over the future use of the facility.

“We’re trying to work out the highest and best use, and we’re actively working with the state government to find the best solution,” he said.

Mr Wagner suggested the quarantine hub could be used to house Ukrainian refugees, the comments coming a week after Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff suggested a one-time intake.

“It’s an ideal place to bring in 1000 Ukrainians – the facility is brand new, it’s fully decked out, there are millions displaced in Europe, so bring in 1000 Ukrainians,” he said.

“Ukraine is an ag-based country and we desperately need ag workers so it solves two problems.”

The Queensland Regional Accommodation Centre at Wellcamp has housed 713 people since it opened in February at an estimated cost of $200 million.

Mayor Paul Antonio said he and Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan had suggested alternative uses for the facility with Deputy Premier Steven Miles.

“(The centre) will continue to be operated by the state government while there is a need to support the pandemic or other identified state needs,” the DSD spokeswoman said.

“The centre will continue to be operated by the state government while there is a need to support the pandemic or other identified needs.”

The Queensland Opposition has made repeated calls for clarity around the costs for the Wellcamp hub and its future as Covid restrictions draw to a close.

Deputy Opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie said the centre had been a white elephant for months.

“They’ve never denied the $200 million price tag,” he said.

However, taxpayers may be in luck with Ms Palaszczuk announcing she would release cabinet papers on a range of matters within 30 days, rather than the accepted norm of waiting 30 years.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Dan Peled

The commitment to transparency comes after the government said it would implement all 14 recommendations that came out of Professor Peter Coaldrake’s integrity report.

“If Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk believes in openness, transparency and the findings of the Coaldrake Review, she would immediately release the cost of the quarantine facility, instead of hiding behind ‘commercial in confidence’,” Mr Bleijie said.

He called on the State Government to open the centre to the public.

“If the Premier believes in openness, transparency and the findings of the Coaldrake Review, she would immediately release the cost of the quarantine facility, instead of hiding behind ‘commercial in confidence’.

“The Premier claims flood victims and domestic violence sufferers would be able to use Wellcamp, but there hasn’t been a clear plan.

“The facility is so bare, some of the bedrooms have never been unlocked or bed sheets washed. This is another example of a third term State Government disrespecting taxpayers’ money.”