It's Happening: Australia Is About To Open Their First COVID Concentration Camp In Queensland

The agreement between the Queensland government and Wagner Corporation to build a regional quarantine facility adjacent to Wellcamp Airport was dubbed 'a very important milestone' by Deputy Premier Steven Miles, but the community, local and federal governments aren't happy.

The project was initially flagged by Toowoomba businessman John Wagner in January, but became a political football as the Queensland and federal governments disagreed over the viability of the plan.

So now Queensland is going it alone on the project despite the federal government approving an army barracks at Pinkenba, near Brisbane Airport, for a joint-run 1,000-bed quarantine facility.

Any travellers from overseas or interstate hotspots while domestic restrictions apply.

Deputy Premier Steve Miles told ABC Radio Brisbane the Queensland government hoped international flights would be allowed to land at Wellcamp Airport, to minimise the risk of busing passengers from Brisbane Airport.

Dr Ait Ouakrim says fully vaccinated travellers pose less risk of infection and transmission, so can therefore be still sent to hotels.

He says high-risk travellers, such as those who are not vaccinated or who have arrived from a country where the virus is out of control, need to be sent to safer, purpose-built facilities.