Scott Morrison – Morrison might ‘attempt to block’ Palaszczuk’s Gladstone quarantine proposal

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says there is a chance Scott Morrison will “attempt to block” the Gladstone quarantine proposal, amid fears mining communities could be hit by the coronavirus.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the regional Queensland city of Gladstone would be included in a proposed scheme to quarantine international arrivals away from urban areas.

“I put to the prime minister some options about where we could look some at alternative quarantine, away from our capital cities,” she said.

Mr Clennell said there is another proposal before the Queensland government to build a quarantine camp near Toowoomba.

“I’m told that federal authorities believe remote or regional quarantine is possible but would cost a lot of money,” he said.

“You would effectively have to have an ICU capacity on site should people fall gravely ill.

“You would have to pay staff extra to stay out there for long periods so they did not contaminate other areas.

“This is all doable, but it comes down to political will and perhaps the Prime Minister would rather not own the troublesome quarantine issue when states are in charge of managing outbreaks through their health officials.”