McArthur at odds with PM
Lui Zacher / 16 May 2021
K News
A Geelong based State MP believes Avalon is still the right choice for a quarantine facillity.
Bev McArthur claims she originally called for the site to host a facility in February, and along with the Member for Polwarth (to the West of Geelong) Richard Riordan, and both claim the state was thrown into an unnecesarry lockdown.
PM Scott Morrison said on Tuesday the Federal Government was still analysing the details of Victoria's "very good proposal" for a quarantine facillity to be built north of Melbourne, in Mickleham, saying the plan put together by the State Government was “very comprehensive and detailed”
"We're working closely with the Victorian proposal and we'll see how we can work together on that initiative," he recently told the ABC.
Mrs. McArthur claimsThe Federal Government’s made a decision to not back the Victorian Government’s plan for a purpose-built facility at Mickleham however, and believes this "has re-invigorated the Avalon option." in a press release.
“The brakes are on the economy. We are at a stalemate and unless we actively pursue immediate options for change – the gaps in our state will remain blocked and reckless damage to business and the economy will roll on for years,” Mrs McArthur said.
“Something in the system has to give – and Avalon prises open the gaps that will give regional tourism and industry the support it so desperately needs.
“This even addresses the worker shortages in the Melbourne CBD.
“It can also play a key role in bringing Australians back home,” Mrs McArthur said.
The Federal Budget outlined a resumption in international travel towards mid next year, however did not allocate any funds towards state based quarantine facillities despite quarantine falling under the Federal umbrella.
Mr Riordan also claimsThe Morrison Government has made a decision not to support the Mickleham proposal.
“The Andrews option was financially daft and missed the mark in a practical sense,” Mr Riordan said.
“Offering $15 million for planning and handballing a potential $800 million construction bill to the Commonwealth was hardly an attractive or serious solution.”
Mrs McArthur said the Mickleham proposal had layers of complications.
“We don’t need a human quarantine station next door to an animal quarantine station. Wuhan anyone? We’ve already seen the combination of bats and bodies - let’s not pursue even a mild version of that here,” she said.