Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s hopes to quarantine returned overseas travellers at a regional workers camp has been dealt a blow by the local mayor.
A camp 20 minutes west of Gladstone and a yet-to-be-built facility in Toowoomba are the two sites the leader has flagged as alternatives for hotel quarantine in the Sunshine State.
However, in a letter to Ms Palaszczuk and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett said the proposal to use the 1392-room Homeground mining camp in Calliope was “not supported by the local community”.
Picture: Matt Taylor
“I have personally kept an open mind on this proposal as myself and my fellow councillors await your response to our concerns,” Mr Burnett wrote.
“However, during the past two weeks our community has expressed its views on the matter and has made its opposition clear.
“The potential for an increased risk of community transmission locally, and the shutdown of our industrial economy that could cause, as well as the lack appropriate medical services, are concerns shared by many in the region including the Gladstone Leadership Group and the Gladstone Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”
The PM said last month, during a visit to the region and following meetings with Mr Burnett and local MP Ken O’Dowd, that while he hadn’t seen Ms Palaszczuk’s proposal, there were “clear concerns”.
“For something like that to even be considered, I think the Premier would need to get the local Labor mayor on board, and I don’t think that’s happening at this point,” Mr Morrison said.
In his letter today, Mr Burnett said he hoped his community’s concerns would be taken into consideration.
