Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Neill for the question. As I've just indicated—and had Senator O'Neill wanted to listen to the answer, she would have noted—the Commonwealth government is quite happy to receive submissions from any state or territory for a hotel quarantine proposal. If the Premier of New South Wales wants to put up a submission for additional hotel quarantine or an additional quarantine system in New South Wales, we will happily receive it. We will happily receive it, just as we have from Victoria, just as we're having conversations with other states and territories. So, if they want to put up a proposal, we welcome that. We are working collaboratively with the states and territories through national cabinet to bring people home. I congratulate New South Wales for operating a gold-standard system but also for handling the bulk of the burden in bringing Australians home. (Time expired)