Taxpayers eye-watering bill for medi-hotel revealed as new political row erupts over dedicated quarantine facility

Official figures reveal the cost of housing travellers and cluster-linked locals in eight city hotels has passed a staggering milestone.

Taxpayers have been billed more than $120 million to house travellers and infectious Covid-19 patients in mandatory fortnight of quarantine, official figures reveal.

State Government data released for the first time lays bare the public cost of housing almost 29,000 expatriates, or people linked with clusters, in eight medi-hotels during the pandemic.

The details emerged after the state’s worst quarantine breach as a new political row erupted over the merits of a dedicated facility.

SA Health figures show over the past two financial years, taxpayers paid at least $118 million for medi-hotel operations.

The bill is even higher as the 2021/2022 budget was not released.

A breakdown of operational costs such as wages of medical staff, police or soldiers, security, testing and upgrades remains secret.

The NSW government net bill was $3.2 million for the more than 1500 South Australian travellers forced to serve 14 days isolation in Sydney medi-hotels.

Repatriated Australians, returning from India, arrive at the Pullman medi-hotel in Hindmarsh Square. Picture: Brenton Edwards

ACT and Tasmanian authorities paid $804,000 for 180 of its citizens to quarantine after arriving in Adelaide from overseas.

Victoria will also have to pay SA due to flight caps during its six lockdowns.

SA’s combined total bill is so far $120.4 million. Under federal law, travellers must quarantine in their port of arrival.

The first medi-hotel at the Pullman, Hindmarsh Square, opened in April last year while the nearby Tom’s Court facility for infectious patients launched in February.

In response to inquiries, chief public health officer, Nicola Spurrier, said SA’s medi-hotel had “played a crucial role in keeping our state safe from the introduction of Covid-19”.

“South Australia wouldn’t be in the fortunate position we are in today without a robust medi-hotel program and the dedicated staff who work so hard on the frontline,” Professor Spurrier said.

“Our medi-hotels have allowed us to repatriate South Australians while safeguarding (against) the spread.”

The issue will dominate a parliamentary committee hearing later this week when senior SA Health officials give evidence about the system.

Sydney father Paul McElhinney, 33, was last week jailed for escaping the Grand Chancellor Hotel through a fire escape and basement carpark before spending eight hours roaming Hindley St.

While Police Commissioner Grant Stevens described the “isolated” breach as a “failure”, he stood by the system and rejected suggestions it had undermined public confidence.

“I don’t think people would tolerate continual failures or mistakes and I fully understand that,” he said.

“I think people appreciate this is not a simple task and we’ve got a lot of people doing an excellent job.

“I would like to think the track record we’ve got in place in our response to Covid carries some weight in terms of the job we’re doing.”

In November, SA’s worst outbreak, the Parafield cluster and the statewide lockdown, was sparked by a virus leak at the city’s Peppers medi-hotel.

From July last year, travellers were charged at least $2800 for their mandatory fortnight hotel quarantine. Until then taxpayers paid $3.5m to house travellers.

Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said: “We have a hugely costly program that carries significant risks, and no plans for a dedicated facility.”

But Health Minister Stephen Wade said this contradicted advice.

“Health experts advise there is no alternative location in South Australia that would lead to better outcomes,” he said.

Three sick travellers have arrived from Britain and Iraq in the past three weeks.