Qld Health still chasing nearly $40m for forced hotel quarantine

Queensland Health is still chasing tens of millions of dollars worth of unpaid hotel quarantine bills. See the state-by-state breakdown of debts owed here.

People at Brisbane airport heading to hotel quarantine during the pandemic. Picture:Josh Woning

The state government is still chasing nearly $40 million in unpaid hotel quarantine bills as the costly burden of retrieving debts weighs on Queensland taxpayers nearly two years after the borders were flung open.

The Courier-Mail can reveal nearly 14,700 invoices remain outstanding, totalling $38.16 million, with nearly 3400 referred to an external debt collector due to the severity of the delayed payments.

The total figure has only slightly decreased from $42.25 million in about a year, a drop of less than 10 per cent, with the onerous and costly retrieval exercise falling on the health department.

A Queensland Health spokesman said the government was unable to reveal the cost of engaging debt collectors due to commercial in confidence arrangements.

Tens of thousands of travellers were forced into hotel quarantine during the pandemic. Picture David Clark

The department has also been forced to dedicate personnel from its finance team to recouping expenses from the forced Covid-19 protection measure.

Since the quarantine program was introduced, more than 87,000 invoices have been issued, totalling more than $255 million.

Since then, the department has received nearly 23,800 fee waiver applications, with nearly 14,500 of those being approved — 60 per cent.

The spokesman said fees had been waived in extenuating circumstances, such as for those suffering financial hardship and vulnerability.

“We have implemented payment plans to help customers pay their outstanding fees,” he said.

“To date, 5865 invoices totalling $22.3m have been paid through these plans, and an additional 2748 invoices are being worked through.

“A Queensland Health finance team is responsible for recouping quarantine expenses and is in regular contact with customers who have outstanding invoices. In addition to contact via phone, SMS and email, routine reminders are issued at 30, 60 and 90 days.”

A major portion of the $32.7m in quarantine invoices deemed overdue are owed by Queenslanders, with $24.3m yet to be paid from those who reside in the state.

But Victorian and NSW residents also still owe the state government millions, with $3.7m and $3.3m overdue from the respective states.

More than $700,000 is overdue from those who reside in WA while more than $25,000 overdue invoice holders live overseas.

The Palaszczuk government reopened the borders in December 2021 when it removed mandatory quarantine for vaccinated travellers.

During the pandemic, the cost of forced two-week hotel quarantine for a single adult was $3220 and $4130 for a couple.

A fortnight stay for a family of two adults and two children cost about $5000.

“Queensland’s Covid-19 quarantine arrangements were critical in protecting the community from the worst of the pandemic,” the Queensland Health spokesman said.

“Our quarantine fee recovery program aims to reduce the financial burden of Covid-19 on Queensland taxpayers by recouping the costs of providing accommodation, linen, laundry and meals.”

Breakdown of state/territory where overdue invoice holders reside:

STATES	BALANCE OWING	INVOICES
ACT	$149,065.00	50
NSW	$3,265,975.00	1170
NT	$120,370.00	43
QLD	$24,335,873.40	8484
SA	$279,585.00	111
TAS	$92,430.00	33
VIC	$3,698,261.95	1289
WA	$706,577.50	246
INTERNATIONAL	$25,390.00	8
GRAND TOTAL	$32,673,527.85	11,434

Originally published as Qld Health still chasing nearly $40m for forced hotel quarantine