Queensland: Overseas arrivals will have to pay 14 day hotel quarantine costs from July 1


Image: (L) An aerial view of Brisbane, QLD, (R) screengrab of the QLD government announcement

Overseas passengers arriving into Queensland will have to pay the costs towards their 14 day mandatory hotel quarantine from July 1. It will become the first state to charge international arrivals.

“The fees are proposed to reduce the financial burden of COVID-19 prevention measures on taxpayers,” Queensland government’s website reads.

News reports are sugesting other states could follow suit as the costs are an added burden to state governments already reeling under an immense economic fallout owing to the COVID-19 crisis.

The costs have been fixed at AUD 2800 for a one adult, AUD 3710 for two adults sharing one room, AUD 4165 for two adults with one child in the same room, AUD 4,620 for two adults with two children in the same room, and AUD 7875 for three adults and three children in two rooms. (All prices are for 14 days).

Screengrab: Queensland Government website announcement
Screengrab: Queensland Government website announcement
Screengrab: Queensland Government website announcement

It is however important to note that those who booked their ticket before the announcement (17th June, 2020 midnight), but arriving on and after 1st July will not have to pay for the quarantine period.

According to reports, 63,000 people have returned to Australia since the annoucement of the cumpulsory 14 day hotel quarantine period.