Overhaul of MIQ long overdue

After months of bad press over the MIQ booking system the Government has decided a more “transparent” virtual lobby system should be installed. It won’t be much immediate help to those trying to get back into the country given the pause on new spaces and general undersupply of rooms in any case.

There are also doubts whether random selection is fair, as someone waiting for days has the same chance as someone who has waiting for months.

National yesterday launched a five-point plan to fix MIQs, including a prioritisation system based on points, similar to how skilled migrants are assessed.

But let’s not get into semantics here. The much bigger question is MIQ itself, what the long-term plan is and whether the bulk of the quarantine facilities should still be in Auckland, our largest city.

It’s not a new question. There have been calls for MIQ to be moved outside Auckland since this time last year. It has become top of mind again as Auckland bears the brunt of the Delta outbreak, thought to have leaked from the Crowne Plaza.

While it made sense originally to turn empty hotels into managed isolation facilities, the concept of housing infected returnees in the middle of the most populated city and largest economic centre is inherently flawed. It’s been clear for some time that Auckland hotels are not fit for purpose, with problems with ventilation and shared spaces. It’s also been clear the virus is not “going” anywhere any time soon. And if even if we do “eliminate” Delta, it will likely be back again in one form or another.

The Government has spent millions of dollars retrofitting the hotels and has repeatedly said the system works. More than 160,000 people have gone through, including more than 1000 positive cases.

But it’s time to ramp up the conversation about longer-term options, including whether purposebuilt facilities should be on the drawing board.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has said MIQ facilities will be needed longer than originally planned but has avoided specifically talking about plans for after the vaccine roll-out.

While not laying down a hard and fast pathway post-vaccination, the Government has ruled out following the UK, for example, by ending Covid-19 restrictions despite surging case numbers.

In July the Government said it was considering an option of building facilities instead of relying on hotels, although Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern did acknowledge some Cabinet papers advised against permanent facilities. Australia has invested in purpose-built facilities, but it doesn’t seem politically trendy to follow our neighbour’s Covid policy in recent times. But the Government needs to give the issue more urgent consideration, especially as Aucklanders battle through week three of level 4 restrictions in what is their fourth citywide lockdown since Covid struck.

There are issues around location, staffing and establishment costs. But as we have seen, the economic cost of lockdowns is far greater. A more sustainable plan is long overdue.