Loophole allowing extra international arrivals into Qld

A loophole is allowing hundreds of extra international arrivals into Queensland without the approval of the state government.

A loophole is allowing hundreds of extra international arrivals into Queensland without the approval of the state government despite a plea for it to be closed, the Premier says.

Annastacia Palaszczuk wrote to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on April 21 calling for him to address a loophole which allows flights with less than 80 people on board to land in Queensland without Commonwealth approval.

Mr Morrison told Ms Palaszczuk the Commonwealth would not require approval for humanitarian or medevac flights.

“Passenger charter flights on aircraft with less than an 80-seat capacity do not require approval to operate from the Department and as such cannot be included under the cap,” he wrote.

The Premier told parliament on Wednesday Queensland had taken 6072 international arrivals, more than double the 3019 commercial flight cap.

The extra arrivals were largely made up of returning Olympians, international sporting teams and Afghan refugees.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said arrivals above the commercial flight cap were “subject to the approval of the Queensland Government”.

“The Queensland Government themselves requested that rugby players from Argentina and South Africa, and the Indian women’s cricket team be permitted to quarantine in Queensland, as well as a number of seasonal workers,” she said.

“Above the cap arrivals for August also included Afghanistan evacuees, returning Olympians and international maritime crew and defence personnel.”