NSW chasing $60 million worth of unpaid hotel quarantine bills

There is almost $60 million in unpaid hotel quarantine bills in NSW. See what power NSW Revenue has to make people pay.

NSW is owed almost $60 million by people who have not paid their hotel quarantine bills.

New information from NSW Revenue on Friday showed the state’s residents owe about $32.1 million and people from interstate – mostly Victoria and Queensland – and overseas owe $26.5 million.

That is a whopping $58.6 million.

Hotel quarantine in the state was free at the start of the pandemic and then the Berejiklian government introduced fees in July 2020.

A mandatory 14 days in hotel quarantine came with a $3000 cost for one adult. Additional adults were $1000 each and children under 18 years of age were $500 each. Children under three years of age were free.

That means a family of two adults and two children would owe $5000.

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NSW is chasing $60 million in unpaid hotel quarantine bills. Picture: Bianca De Marchi/NCA NewsWire

International arrivals were required to do 14 days of hotel quarantine from March 2020 until November 2021.

People entering Australia from overseas often flew into Sydney and did their hotel quarantine there when other state governments made it difficult for them to fly directly into their home state.

There were also periods of time when interstate travellers from Victoria had to do hotel quarantine to enter NSW.

Unvaccinated international arrivals still had to do hotel quarantine until April 30, however from February 21 it was reduced to seven days and the costs were halved.

Hotel quarantine was completely scrapped on April 30. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

According to Revenue NSW, people received their invoice by email or post after they checked out and had 30 days to pay.

A 14-day extension or payment plan was available.

Revenue NSW has issued debt recovery orders on $52.6 million from 63,354 overdue invoices.

If the money owed, including overdue fees, is not paid after a debt recovery order is issued, NSW Revenue can commence debt recovery action.

This can include a bank or wage garnishee, which is when your bank or employer must deduct money from your account or salary to pay the amount owing.

Debt recovery action also includes property seizure orders (goods from your home or workplace can be seized), examination summons (order to attend court), or a charge on land for property owned by you (prevents you from selling).

The remaining $7.4 million owed is being repaid through active payment plans.

People can apply for a quarantine fee waiver here.

Originally published as NSW chasing $60 million worth of unpaid hotel quarantine bills