Queenslanders fume as quarantine invoice delays continue

Queenslanders who spent time in hotel quarantine during the pandemic are still being burdened by the billing process due to lengthy delays.

Queenslanders who toughed their way through hotel quarantine have called on health authorities to reassess the billing process as lengthy delays continue to plague their day-to-day lives.

With 76,884 invoices issued, as at May 6, to those who stayed in Queensland hotel quarantine facilities during the height of the pandemic, more than 19,800 people had submitted requests to have their fees waived but only 4,623 had either been partially or completely approved.

Emily Bengree said she waited five months to receive her initial hotel quarantine invoice after leaving her mandatory two-week stay on the Gold Coast in October.

Emily Bengree and Benjie Reid with Nichola Reid. They’ve been waiting for communication from the State Government to sort out the hotel quarantine invoice issues. Picture: Image/Josh Woning

After applying for a waiver in March, she said she has been met with radio silence.

“I was 28-weeks pregnant around this stage (during quarantine) and had a rough pregnancy so waiting this long had added to my frustration and stress as we have to touch savings to pay,” Ms Bengree told The Courier-Mail.

“It was just this niggle in the back of my head every day. I often thought this added to my stress related fainting after exiting quarantine.”

Adults travelling by themselves were billed $3,220 for the two week mandatory stay, while two adults were charged $4,130 and two adults and two minors sharing a room would be charged $5,040.

Ms Bengree welcomed her first child, Nichola, earlier this year alongside her partner Benje Reid, and the child’s room was hit by the devastating South East Queensland floods.

Ms Bengree, who quarantined alone at Voco Gold Coast, cited income support as the reason why she applied for a fee waiver after being hit with the expensive bill.

Voco Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

“It is pretty slack on their end. I am frustrated and disappointed that it has taken this long,” she said.

“I constantly check on (my) emails everyday hoping they will get back (to me).

“I was hoping this would all be done 12 weeks after leaving quarantine. Now, we are still waiting for them to get back (and) it could be another five months.

“I understand the floods had probably slowed it down but it’s no excuse.”

Amanda Johnson said she applied for a fee waiver about a year ago and is still waiting to hear from health authorities.

Ms Johnson said she moved to Queensland in 2020 to keep herself and her daughter safe after being a victim to domestic violence in Victoria.

After finishing her hotel stay in November 2020 she received her initial invoice four months later.

Frustrated Queenslanders are calling on the Palaszczuk Government to do something about these delays. Pics Tara Croser.

“I’ve still never heard anything back from them so I don’t know whether it’s been accepted or if I’m going to get an email asking me for payments,” she said.

She applied for the waiver because of the history of family violence, and said she is living a renewed life since leaving Victoria.

“I just love that I can live my life without looking over my shoulder, worried that he’s going to find me again,” she said.

“That’s a huge relief. I actually live now without fear.”

As someone who wants to follow rules, Ms Johnson described the nervousness that she feels whenever she hears anyone mention hotel quarantine.

“It’s not like we don’t pay taxes for this. Everybody had a reason for their travel to Queensland or anywhere else,” she said.

“It’s ridiculous to put these financial costs on. We pay our taxes, that should be paying it.

A Queensland Health spokesperson said they “continue to process hotel quarantine invoices as quickly as possible”.

“Before issuing an invoice, data from various system providers must be collated,” the spokesperson said.