A former RAAF air commodore says it's understandable why the government is taking its time to consider an on-the-ground response to the Ebola crisis in west Africa.
Former Air Commodore John Oddie spent 35 years in the military, with extensive experience in disaster evacuation.
The government has provided $18 million to the international Ebola effort, as well as $40 million to the World Health Organisation.
But a decision still hasn't been made on sending in a military or civilian health team to join international efforts on the ground - despite pleas for more help from partners like the US and UK.
The government is seeking a guarantee from other countries that any workers who may contract the virus can be evacuated and treated.
The 30-hour evacuation back to Australia is considered impractical and life-threatening.
Labor says the obstacles can be overcome.
Mr Oddie says it's right for the country to have a balanced debate about how to respond.
"It's an essential discussion that must be balanced with the needs of the people of Africa, our national risk and the social commitments we stand for as a nation," he told AAP on Monday.
"Whatever the answer is it will be imperfect and if you get it wrong the consequences could be profound."
The former heavy transport pilot said the fitting out of aircraft was not a trivial exercise.
Some of the problems included providing support to someone in an isolation unit and the potential for tearing, leakage and cross-contamination.
All of the crew on board the aircraft would have to be protected.
"My experience in the military is the most difficult things are procedures and operation of personal protective equipment - they are complex garments and complex procedures and you end up being prone to making mistakes," Mr Oddie said.
The management of contaminated waste was also an issue.
The return trip from west Africa would have to include a stopover - possibly in the Middle East or South America - which presented the problem of negotiating with another country to land and refuel.
Then there was how to handle health workers and others who returned to Australia from west Africa.
The situation in the United States had shown the need for strict protocols to handle people who arrive back in the country suspected of having the virus, and those who treat them.
One of the options being considered by the government is focusing on the Asia-Pacific region rather than deploying to Africa.
Mr Oddie said there could be merit to this, in that Ebola appeared to spread quicker in places where people lived very close together.
"There are a lot of those countries around Asia and particularly across the sub-continent."
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