The Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Thursday the state government’s plans to build a quarantine camp describing it as a “no-brainer.”
Palaszczuk made the announcement in a post on social media, saying the 1000-bed facility will be used to combat the “dangerous Delta variant.”
“A dedicated regional quarantine facility will be built at Wellcamp Airport near Toowoomba. As we contend with the dangerous Delta variant, we need fit-for-purpose quarantine facilities,” she said in a post on Twitter.
Adding, “Australia needs regional quarantine facilities to keep us safe. It’s a no-brainer.”
The Premier said quarantine camps are the “answer” to opening up the state again, as they will help ease pressure on the current hotel quarantine system.
“As soon as a regional quarantine facility is built, we are ready to put it to use,” she said.
Queensland’s announcement follows that of Victoria, where construction on a 1000-bed quarantine camp in Melbourne’s north has already started.
According to ABC News, Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked Commonwealth officials to prioritize the project which is set to be completed before the end of the year.
“On completion of the first stage, a facility with a 1,000-bed capacity will increase the number of Australians that can return to Australia and provide options to assist in our economic recovery by enabling arrivals of international students, skilled migrants and other economic intakes into the medium term,” he said.
The move has been slammed across social media, particularly by non-Australians, who have likened the facilities to concentration camps and gulags.
The Victorian facilities will cost taxpayers more than $200-million to build.
