Asked whether the Prime Minister or even the local mayor knew about the announcement before she fronted the media,Ms Palaszczuk said,“I’m quite sure he does now.”
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio learnt about the announcement while driving back from an event at Oakey this morning,and said he was very disappointed by the state government’s handling of the issue.
“That shows an absolute lack of respect to local government … and the people of Toowoomba,” Mr Antonio said.
“There is a real fear in the community about the virus getting in,and they have taken the monkey off the back of the rest of Queensland and put it on us.”
The mayor said he was not necessarily against the facility entirely,but said there had been absolutely no consultation of the council or the community,adding he still had not received any response toa series of questions he sent to the state government months ago.
“We sent that letter on the 11th of February,and we have not had a reply,” he said.