Mega cost of Victoria’s hotel quarantine program revealed

Victoria’s hotel quarantine program is costing more than $1m a day, and hotels, staff and other contract holders are still being paid despite the program being suspended.

Victoria’s hotel quarantine program is costing more than $1 million a day to run, it has been revealed.

For the first time the total spend on the currently suspended program has been detailed in the state government’s 2020-21 Mid-Year Financial Report, published on Friday.

It estimates a total bill of $377 million to run the program for a single year.

The figure includes the total value of contracts for the programmes transport, health and hotel providers.

Hotels, staff and other contract holders have continued to be paid despite the quarantine scheme being suspended on February 12 when international flights into Melbourne were stopped.

The government has not yet detailed plans to resume international flights into Melbourne, despite pressure from the federal government and other state leaders.

Hotels, staff and other contract holders have continued to be paid despite the quarantine scheme being suspended on February 12. Picture: Getty Images

A COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria spokesperson said it was necessary to keep the program ready on standby.

“It’s essential that CQV has ready trained staff and fit for purpose hotels available and on standby to allow quarantine accommodation to resume when required,” she said.

“While international flights are suspended the program has continued to support emergency accommodation for community members, quarantine for airline crew, the Frontline Worker Program and returned travellers who gain an exemption to enter Victoria for medical or compassionate reasons.”

Of the 15 hotels currently contracted to the quarantine program, five remain operational. Picture: Ian Currie

The spokesperson said staff were receiving extra training and consolidating skills throughout the prgoramme’s suspension.

Of the 15 hotels currently contracted to the quarantine program, five remain operational.

The government has refused to detail how much hotels were being paid to remain on standby, claiming commercial in confidence arrangements.

However it has been confirmed non-operational hotels were still being paid, but at a reduced rate for unoccupied rooms.

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