NSW MP Helen Dalton wants the federal government to use the Christmas Island detention centre for quarantining of Australian residents returning from overseas.
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The member for Murray spoke to federal MP and member for Farrer Sussan Ley about the idea on Wednesday morning.
"I just think it's a no-brainer," Mrs Dalton said.
"It doesn't have to be permanent, but you can set it up, so it's adequate, comfortable and you can get expats back."
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP says opening to the Indian Ocean territory to returning travellers would be part of a "cleverer" federal strategy and added "unless they're vigilant and wake up we'll have that (COVID-19) strain England has and England's a mess".
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In August, the Australian Border Force announced that criminals unable to be deported because of COVID-19 would be housed at Christmas Island.
Ms Ley said that situation and other issues made using detention centres for returning travellers problematic.
"It is fair to say there is no easy solution to this during a continuing global pandemic, with Australia's existing detention centres housing something like 1500 detainees and required COVID-19 distancing measures putting every facility under extra pressure," Ms Ley said.
"Christmas Island is also unsuitable, with that centre now being used to house those who have had their visas cancelled under the character provisions of the Migration Act, which includes crimes involving assault, sexual offences, drugs and other violent offences."
Ms Ley defended the federal government's efforts to assist Australians wanting to arrive on home soil.
"Around 430,000 Aussies have returned from overseas since March and I know our government is doing everything possible to help get every citizen, who wants to come home, back as soon as it is practical," she said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Dalton has criticised Premier Gladys Berejiklian for taking umbrage at other states raising border barriers against NSW, noting she had was slow to remove checkpoints when Victoria's numbers fell.
"I find it a bitter pill to swallow when she talks about other governments and she had no compassion at all when she shut the border with Victoria," Mrs Dalton said after having tweeted a screenshot of a Border Mail story about a daughter unable to say goodbye to her dying mother at Tocumwal.
"Is she a hypocrite or what?"
