By Dominique Tassell
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk would not confirm the cost of Toowoomba’s Wellcamp quarantine facility in parliament this morning.
When asked how much the facilities would cost, the Premier stated that this was confidential.
She stated the facility would be “up and running by the end of this year”.
“By Christmas those facilities will be ready,” she said.
She also repeatedly stated that though she could not reveal the cost, it will be “a lot lot less than the federal government’s Pinkenba facilities”.
The Premier expressed that she had been advocating for regional quarantine facilities for a long time, and had decided to take it into the state government’s hands after failing to come to an agreement with the federal government.
She stated that “regional quarantine is the best way that we can have a safe environment for people returning to the state…and for the staff working”
The Premier referenced seasonal workers for the state’s farming communities, and how the new facility would help them.
She also stated that universities have also expressed interested in having international students quarantining at the new facility too, though said the government will prioritise residents first.
The Premier stated that the facility can take international flights, saying “that’s not a problem”.
“If you build it they will come,” she repeatedly stated.
“This is the best way we can protect Queenslanders.”
The new regional quarantine facility is in collaboration with Wagner Corporation,
Wagner Corporation will build the facility, with the accommodation modules to be manufactured in Queensland. The Queensland Government will operate the facility once it is up and running.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles previously stated that “this facility will help Queensland to continue to open up and avoid expensive lockdowns”.
“The Queensland Government will continue to work collaboratively to progress the Commonwealth’s Pinkenba facility, but we need more options to get returning Australians home safer.”
Minister for Health Yvette D’Ath said, when the new facility was announced, that it would help continue to keep Queenslanders safe.
“With more than one facility in Queensland, we will be greatly reducing our reliance on hotel quarantine,” Minister D’Ath said.
That means a lower risk of COVID spreading from facilities that were never designed for secured quarantining.”
