NORTH East MP Helen Haines now says "it would make little sense to use Bandiana" army base to quarantine international arrivals for COVID-19.
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"Last week, I was asked by local media about using Commonwealth assets like Bandiana in regional Australia as quarantine facilities," Dr Haines said in a media statement issued at 10.30pm on Monday.
"I want to be clear. I have never called for COVID-19 quarantine to be moved to Bandiana.
"Nobody has called for it. Nor should they. It would make little sense to use Bandiana as a quarantine facility.
"Transporting people here from Melbourne airport would be logistically difficult, and our health services are focused on the needs of locals.
"I know this as well as anyone.
"Not to mention the fact it is already being used by the military."
The about-face from Dr Haines follows criticism by constituents concerned about fallout from having overseas travellers housed on the Border for quarantine.
Transporting people here from Melbourne airport would be logistically difficult.
- Helen Haines
Business Wodonga chairman Graham Jenkin said having returning passengers isolate at Bandiana "makes no sense" because of its distance from Melbourne and the three to four hour transit period.
However, he said military bases were a "good idea" to host travellers and pointed to Puckapunyal, given it has its own airfield, as a worthy candidate.
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Meanwhile, Dr Haines said improvements were needed in general to the quarantine set-up.
"Right now, if we do not reform our quarantine system, we will clearly face another year of uncertainty and periodic shutdowns of the state and the border," she said.
"Sensible quarantine measures will mean we don't go backwards and we maintain the freedom we have worked so hard for.
"It's been a year now, and the Commonwealth Government has apparently done little to explore alternatives to solve the quarantine issue. It's time for that to change."
The federal government has deferred to states on quarantine arrangements with Prime Minister Scott Morrison leaving it to Premiers and state health departments.
