There are currently more than 600 Australians trapped in Wuhan, and 53 New Zealanders registered as being in the region.
Morrison said he had been speaking with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about combining resources for the evacuation effort.
“We’re putting the plans in place, we’re working with the Chinese Government to put this in place,” Morrison said.
“I spoke again to Prime Minister Ardern today, I spoke to her last night, so this is very much an ANZAC operation. We will be working very closely with them.”
Ardern confirmed New Zealand would be working on a “joint ANZAC assisted departure” from Wuhan.
“Specific details of the evacuation plan, including the medical protocols that will be applied to returning New Zealanders, and access arrangements on the ground in China are being worked through by officials,” she said.
Australians stuck in Wuhan and the surrounding area will be sent to Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, for quarantine.
Evacuees will stay at the detention centre for 14 days
“We’re preparing a plan for an operation to provide some assisted departures for isolated and vulnerable Australians in Wuhan and the Hubei province,” Morrison said.
“This will be done subject obviously to working closely and with the authority and approval of the Chinese Government…I stress that this will be done on a last in, first out basis.
“We’re particularly focused on the more vulnerable components of that population. That’s young people, particularly infants, and those who are elderly.”
