Victoria presents business plan for federal owned and funded quarantine hub

Acting Victoria Premier James Merlino has presented a Victorian business case for an alternative quarantine hub funded by the federal government. The shortlisted site under consideration is next to the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility which quarantines animals upon their entry into the country. Mr Merlino said the federal government is currently in active discussions with the Commonwealth which the Victorian government have asked to pay for the construction of the purpose-built facility. “The request to the Commonwealth is they pay for the construction of this facility and ultimately take ownership of this facility,” he said. “This is a Commonwealth responsibility and just like Howard Springs, it should be owned by the Commonwealth.” Mr Merlino noted the facility would be run by COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria (CQV) and would initially contain 500 beds with the possibility of scaling the program up to take 3,000. He said the facility could be open and functional by the end of the year if given the green light by the federal government. Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au