Brisbane is considering relocating homeless people to a disused COVID quarantine centre. 

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has pledged $1 million towards relocating homeless people living in the city's parks to the empty $400 million COVID-19 quarantine centre at Pinkenba. 

However, the federal government, who owns the facility, has reportedly expressed frustration that the mayor had not discussed the plan with them before announcing it publicly.

A spokesperson for Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said that while the federal government was prepared to work with the Queensland state government and the Brisbane City Council on the issue, they had not yet received a formal request from the council or the state government.

Despite this, the council is working towards an agreement with the state, with Mayor Schrinner scheduled to meet with Minister for Housing Leeanne Enoch next week.

Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon acknowledged the importance of services being involved in any solution, as housing needs are often complex and require more than just a roof over one's head. She also highlighted the complexities of using a quarantine facility as a housing solution.

While Mayor Schrinner believes that the Pinkenba facility would be appropriate for people with “low needs” who have fallen on hard times and do not require a high level of support services, CEO of Micah Projects, Karyn Walsh, emphasised that any solution would need the input of stakeholders to provide clarity around the best steps forward.

The allocation of funds would cover laundry services at the facility, as well as transport and library services, including bus services, the council cabs program, and the mobile library.

This proposal comes at a time when Brisbane is struggling with a growing homelessness problem, with the homeless population in Queensland increasing by 20 per cent in the past five years, and tents popping up daily in parks throughout the inner city.

The mayor’s initiative has received mixed reactions, with some believing it has merit, but requires a collaborative effort to ensure its feasibility and effectiveness.