The federal government’s $200 million Bullsbrook quarantine hub could be used to house overseas workers migrating to WA under a plan being mulled by the state government.
The federal government’s $200 million Bullsbrook quarantine hub could be used to house overseas workers migrating to Western Australia under a plan being mulled by the state government.
The 500-bed Centre for National Resilience, which was supposed to serve as a COVID quarantine facility, is being built on Commonwealth-owned land west of the Pearce RAAF Base.
The facility was funded by the Morrison government before being handed over to the state this month, which will now oversee its operation and cover the associated costs.
The centre, built by Multiplex, was initially expected to be completed by March.
But, much like other construction projects, the facility was beset with delays, and is now set to open next month.
With the facility no longer needed for its original purpose, the state government has been floating ideas for alternate uses; with housing for overseas workers among the uses discussed.
During a press conference this afternoon, Premier Mark McGowan confirmed the plan was progressing, with the state embarking on a formal process to consider uses that would most benefit the state.
“We're looking at it being used for worker accommodation, in particular, people we might need to recruit [workers] from overseas to come into WA,” he said.
“It’s a process we're currently going through.
“We haven't finalised it; we still have to work out how to do it, how to fund it, how to operationalise it, all those sorts of things.
“It was a decision of the last Liberal government nationally to build it and we welcomed it; if they want to spend $300 million in WA, fine, but we'll look at what options are out there to make the best use of it.
“It's basically trying to find a use for this facility that benefits the entire state.”
But the state opposition has already criticised the plan, with Shadow Housing Minister Steve Martin saying it would do little to address the shortage of accommodation and labour in regional WA.
He said the shortage in accommodation options and labour was being felt well beyond Bullsbrook.
“This Labor Government need to get serious about addressing the housing crisis once and for all and come up with viable solutions that solve accommodation shortages across the whole of regional Western Australia – not just 40 minutes out of the CBD," he said.
Mr McGowan shot down suggestions the facility could instead be used to house those experiencing homelessness, labelling the idea put forward by the state opposition as “silly”.
“It's not really going to be appropriate for homeless people,” he said.
“I know the opposition has a silly way of suggesting these sorts of things, but it won't work.
“People won't stay there.
“This is actually historically what used to happen when migrants came into Australia.
“There were often these facilities where they settled, they understood the country, got a job, got themselves and their living arrangements in place and then they moved on to other forms of accommodation.
“It provides that six-week or two-months interim accommodation while they find somewhere to live.”
