Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

As I said in my answer to the primary question, the Howard Springs facility has operated largely throughout and has been significantly expanded—indeed, doubled—during the operation of that facility. As I also said in the answer to the primary question, the facility being built in Victoria will see handover of its first beds to the Victorian government before the end of this year. The Victorian government will take on the operational capabilities. I thank them, as I do the governments of Western Australia and Queensland, for the way in which they have engaged with the Commonwealth through the design stages. Their officials have worked with us in terms of all the different protocols necessary to ensure the highest standards of infection control, the highest standards of safety protocols in relation to those facilities, and the agreements they have entered into in relation to Commonwealth responsibility for building and their role in relation to operation.