Despite talks with nations including the UK, US and throughout Europe, Australia has been unable to sure up a treatment or evacuation plan for its personnel should they be sent to west Africa, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says.
"I do not have in place a guarantee that should an Australian health worker - sent there by the Australian government - contract Ebola, they would be able to be transported or treated in a hospital either in the region or in Europe," she told reporters in Launceston on Saturday.
"And until I have that in place we will not be sending Australian health workers."
The minister presumed that Australian health workers travelling privately to the outbreak region would be covered by a credible plan provided by their affiliate organisation.
Ms Bishop's comments follow an Ebola scare in northern Australia where Cairns nurse Sue Ellen Kovack, 57, returned from working in Sierra Leone, with symptoms including a fever.
Initial tests have cleared Ms Kovack of Ebola but she remains hospitalised in isolation and will have a second round of testing on Sunday.
The Australian government has contributed $18 million for equipment and supplies in west Africa since the Ebola outbreak.
"That's the kind of practical response we are providing but I am not putting at risk the lives of health workers," Ms Bishop said.
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