Department of Justice and Community Safety figures show 3900 invoices remain unpaid

The Victorian government has warned debts must be paid as it chases up thousands of people who skipped on their bill when they stayed in quarantine hotels.

The Victorian government is still trying to claw back $9.1m billed to people who stayed in the state’s Covid-19 hotel quarantine system.

Figures released by the Department of Justice and Community Safety revealed 3900 invoices remained unpaid as of October 25, with just 470 of those on a payment plan to repay their debts.

It raises questions over whether the debts will ever be recouped.

However, a government spokesperson said the debts were still being chased and warned that people were expected to pay up.

The state government is still trying to claw back $9.1m from hotel quarantine guests. Picture: Ian Currie

“Fines do not expire and can be enforced at any time,” the Herald Sun was told.

“We are continuing to recover outstanding fees from individuals who were in state-designed mandatory quarantine locations in Victoria between December 7, 2020 and April 22, 2022.”

“We have many options available for those experiencing disadvantage or with special circumstances to deal with their fine, and we encourage people to contact Fines Victoria to work out a plan.”

In 2021 bills began hitting the mailboxes of users of the state’s scheme, after the Victorian parliament legislated in December 2020 for return travellers to be charged $3000, with a $1000 fee for each additional adult in a room and $500 for children aged between three and 18.

The government says there are many options available for people who still need to pay. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Approximately 22,815 invoices valued at $74.2 million have been issued however, it’s not clear how much of that total figure has been recouped.

The warning that debts would not be forgotten comes after other states cleared similar debts after multiple court challenges to the invoices.

The New South Wales government wiped more than $60m in hotel quarantine fees after hiring debt collectors to chase people with little success.

Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria was the government agency originally responsible for the program, but that was disbanded in March with the outstanding bills now being chased by the justice department.

At its peak the scheme was costing taxpayers more than $1m a day to run including payments for hotels, staff and security.

It has been estimated that the total bill for running the hotel quarantine program was $377m for a single year.

In total Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria accommodated 73,111 persons, including- 2,173 in the $570 million newly built centre in Mickleham – which has since been mothballed.

Most of these arrived before the power to bill people came into effect.

At the time the invoices were sent out, the state opposition supported a user-pays contribution to the cost of hotel quarantine, but said “Labor’s last minute scramble has left taxpayers exposed to further costs”.