International travellers who did hotel quarantine now owe state nearly $17m

International travellers who had to undergo 14 days quarantine in city hotels now owe the state nearly $17m in outstanding debts.

Taxpayers are owed almost $17m in unpaid Covid-19 medi-hotel bills, figures show, as authorities say the facilities are still needed despite quarantine restrictions easing.

Latest state government data shows $16.65m is outstanding from international travellers, who were forced to undergo 14-day quarantine at one of the city’s seven facilities.

But Premier Steven Marshall said medi-hotels were required, including for patients who cannot safely isolate themselves at home.

“We still need them for people who are unvaccinated because they are required to do 14 days of medi-hotel supervision,” Mr Marshall said.

“The might have a large family, a large vulnerable family that may have special needs, so we need to be able to provide those alternative arrangements,” he said.

“We are still weeks away from the peak of this disease and we need to take all precautions possible.”

He said there were currently 102 people in the state’s medi-hotels, mostly infectious people who can’t isolate at home.

At least two infectious tennis player support staffers, here for the international event at Memorial Drive, who are isolating in the Pullman medi-hotel.

Upper house MP Frank Pangallo, who requested the fines data, said the outstanding debts were a concern. The bill has risen almost $10m in six months.

“Collection was always going to be a problem,” said Mr Pangallo, an SA-Best MLC who requested the data more than five months ago.

“A two-week stay is extremely expensive considering the enormous costs of repatriation flights at the height of the pandemic would have stretched people’s financial ability to pay.

“They are … threatening individuals through the Fines Enforcement Recovery Unit which could mean people will lose the ability to renew driving licences and registration of their vehicles.

“This could cause further economic harm and jeopardise employment.”

SA Best MP Frank Pangallo requested the data on how much is owed to the state from quarantining travellers. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

SA Health Minister Stephen Wade. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Kelly Barnes

Separate figures published for the first time shows more than $33,000 in fines have been issued to quarantining travellers while nearly $9000 was charged to guests who damage rooms.

Health Minister Stephen Wade this week told state parliament that debt recovery for guest quarantine damage, such as to carpets and televisions is not pursued.

“The full extent of damage is unknown as the hotel operators choose to treat damage as accidental or expected depreciation,” he said.

Adelaide has seven medi-hotels, where interstate travellers have had to quarantine on arrival during the Covid-19 pandemic. Picture Emma Brasier.

Originally published as International travellers who did hotel quarantine now owe state nearly $17m