BULLSBROOK’S long inactive quarantine facility will soon be put to use for six passengers who were onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship during a hantavirus outbreak.

As reported in Labor’s latest prison plan comes under fire, the $400 million facility has idled since its completion in 2022 with latest plans looking to turn it to a prison.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said on Tuesday although there were other facilities around the country, Perth was always going to be the first port of call for the returning flight for the passengers.

He said though there was a facility in Brisbane and Melbourne, whether future responses to infection cases will rely on Perth will depend on the most convenient place for people to enter Australia again.

“But Perth was always going to be the first port of call, which is why as the national government… we took the view that it was a national responsibility to find a national solution to this challenge,” he said.

“Western Australia or WA Health staff will not be involved in the care and support of these passengers while they are at Bullsbrook.

“Bullsbrook will be staffed in medical terms by staff from the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre.

“This is a federal centre… set up in 2002 in response to the Bali bombing tragedy.

“It has very high experience in dealing with infectious disease emergencies.

“Staff are in the process of being deployed from Darwin to look after the five Australians and the single New Zealander who will be at Bullsbrook over the course of (three weeks).”

Bullsbrook resident and community group administrator Colin Butland said there was a lot of discussion in the community about the Bullsbrook quarantine facility once news of the plans for quarantine broke.

“Let’s remember something important, this facility was built for quarantine purposes,” he said.

“Whether people agree with it or not, that is its role.

“I know there’s fear, frustration, anger, and a lot of memories from the COVID years being brought back up.

“I understand that, but panic and division won’t help our community.

“Strong communities don’t run from difficult situations.

“We face them head on, stay informed, and look after each other while doing it.”

The state’s chief health officer Clare Huppatz said the quarantine arrangements would mean the rare illness presents no risk to the community.

“WA Health will continue to monitor the situation and provide appropriate support and public health advice,” she said.

“This is a very rare disease, with human-to-human transmission rarer still.”

According to WA Health, hantavirus is spread by inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people