Commonwealth facing calls to establish ‘nationally-run’ quarantine facilities

The Morrison government is facing further calls for it to establish and run quarantine services to ensure Australians overseas return home safely. Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan on Sunday said the Commonwealth should take control of quarantine and suggested military bases be transformed into facilities. Defence Minister Peter Dutton categorically refuted the suggestion, saying RAAF bases and the Christmas Island facility were unsuitable for quarantine. Labor frontbencher Jason Clare has criticised the government for not taking action on major repatriation flights and Commonwealth-run quarantine facilities 12 months ago. He said the prime minister should have hired Qantas planes to “get Australians out of places they can’t get out of” and then establish “nationally-run quarantine services”. “The government should have that taken action last year.”