Victorian government gets federal backing to build quarantine facility

The federal government is supporting a plan to build a purpose-built COVID-19 quarantine facility in Victoria.

The Commonwealth has given the state government a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the development.

Victoria has proposed a 500-bed facility at Mickleham in Melbourne's north.

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Today treasurer Josh Frydenberg suggested Canberra might prefer a site near Avalon Airport.

The Victorian government had asked the Commonwealth to fund the project which is estimated to cost $200 million.

Today, Acting Premier James Merlino said the state was ready to act as soon as Canberra gave the green light.

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"The federal government just needs to give us the tick on the site, the tick on the funding and we will get this thing built," Mr Merlino said.

Both Avalon Airport and the Mickleham site are on federal government land.

9News understands the move will be announced formally tomorrow.