People stuck in forced hotel quarantine can apply to leave, as government says not one bill sent

People stuck in forced hotel quarantine can apply to leave and self-isolate in other accommodation. It comes as the government says it hasn’t handed out a single bill for forced quarantine.

PEOPLE stuck in forced hotel quarantine can now apply to leave and self-isolate in other accommodation in order to save themselves paying the full $2500 bill.

As the NT’s quarantine rules relaxed yesterday, allowing people to self-isolate in their chosen accommodation, the NT News can reveal a total of 2316 people were quarantined in hotels in the past two-and-a-half months.

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Between March 24, when the rule came into effect for international arrivals, and June 12, 1165 people were put into hotel quarantine in Darwin, Katherine and Nhulunbuy while another 1151 people were quarantined in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

This includes every man, woman and child, and the government said it was still calculating family structures, how many rooms were used and other data relating to individuals’ quarantine requirements.

No invoices have been sent out, which means the government has technically made no money for enforcing pay-your-own-way quarantine.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner previously told the NT News the bill for hotel quarantine worked out to be about $2650, though the government covered the rest of the cost.

Mr Gunner said yesterday morning that the borders would open “in and around” July 20.

“At the end of this week will be the first time I’ll make a decision (on borders) based on that community transmission or containment,” he told Mix 104.9.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner. Picture: Che Chorley

“I’ll give around 30 days notice. I haven’t said what the date will be in July but it would be in and around that date (July 20).”

The quarantine fee for individuals in mandatory quarantine in hotels was $250 a day to a maximum of $2500, while for family units it was $500 a day to a maximum of $5000.

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Those hard strapped for cash can apply for a 50 per cent reduction.

To be eligible low income earner must show their 2018-19 Australian Taxation Office tax assessment notice or Centrelink documentation showing they make $52,706 a year or less or $68,894 a year or less for families.