Scott Morrison proposes Brisbane COVID-19 quarantine hub, rejects Wellcamp Airport proposal

The Prime Minister has proposed an army barracks in Brisbane as a COVID-19 quarantine hub, officially killing off the stalled Wellcamp plan near Toowoomba.

Key points:

In a letter sent to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Thursday evening, and obtained by the ABC, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Wellcamp facility failed to meet “key requirements”.

He instead suggested the Damascus Barracks, at Pinkenba, about 5 minutes’ drive from Brisbane Airport, be considered.

The Queensland government as late as Tuesday was urging the Commonwealth to reconsider plans for a 1,000-bed camp at Wellcamp Airport, saying it would be cheaper and larger than other proposals.

However, Ms Palaszczuk said the state government would consider the PM’s proposal.

The Queensland government had been pushing to create a quarantine facility at Wellcamp Airport.(

David Chen

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Mr Morrison said the criteria for selecting a quarantine site included:

“I appreciate the significant work that has gone into developing this [Toowoomba] proposal,” Mr Morrison said.

“It remains the priority of my government to ensure that more Australians who are overseas can safely return home.”

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“My government shares your desire to find quarantine solutions that can increase Australia’s intake of Pacific workers.”

Mr Morrison said the federal government would consider any proposal that met the national criteria for standalone quarantine.

He said the criteria, which was released earlier this month, had been developed to ensure any facilities met health guidelines, were value for money and could be used beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

The Damascus Barracks is approximately 30 hectares in size and is currently being used for the storage and supply of material, according to the Defence Department.

Queensland COVID-19 snapshot:

Latest information from Queensland Health.

The ABC understands the site would be suitable as a quarantine site as there is empty land on which accommodation can be built.

“The site is of a suitable size and meets the Commonwealth’s relevant key assessment criteria including access to an international airport taking regularly scheduled international commercial passenger flights and proximity to a principal referral hospital,” Mr Morrison said.

“The Commonwealth invites the Queensland government to participate in a joint formal assessment of this site.”

“I note that the Queensland government is likely to have a large number of sites available which may be suitable.”

Mr Morrison has also written to Victoria’s Acting Premier, James Merlino, to advise him of the federal government’s plan to build a quarantine facility on Commonwealth land at Mickleham, north of Melbourne.

The facility was originally proposed by the Victorian government, which budgeted $15 million to design it.

Mr Morrison said the facility would have an “initial 1,000-bed capacity”, but would open when the first 500 beds were available, to speed up the project.

The Morrison Government had been considering a site next to Avalon Airport, near Geelong.

Read our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic AMA backs barracks quarantine hub

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Chris Perry told ABC Radio Brisbane under many criteria the Damascus Barracks proposal looked perfect.

“It is pretty close to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, which has the major intensive care facilities for COVID people, not that far away from PA [Princess Alexandra] as well or Chermside. It is a huge site, 29 hectares,” he said.

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But he said the site came with its own set of challenges, especially security given its open space, and its proximity to public transport.

However, Dr Perry said if the Damascus Barracks proposal was given the go-ahead it would need to be built as soon as possible.

“We need to get people out of recirculated air-conditioning, especially with these new variants which do not take much of an exposure to infect people,” he said.

“We just cannot keep having these outbreaks [from hotel quarantine] ruining our economy. It is much cheaper to put in these facilities than it is to have lockdowns.”

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