Millions on the line as NT considers raising price of mandatory quarantine
MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars are on the line as hot spot travellers serving quarantine stints in the Northern Territory pay much less than what it costs to house them.
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MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars are on the line as hot spot travellers serving quarantine stints in the Northern Territory pay much less than what it costs to house them.
It comes as Chief Minister Michael Gunner indicated the government was looking to increase the amount people paid to quarantine in NT facilities as some travellers are using it as a gateway to places such as Queensland.
High-level discussions between the NT and the federal government over the long-term role of the Top End’s premier quarantine facility were ongoing with progress “positive”, Mr Gunner’s office confirmed.
A total of 2650 people have flowed through the NT’s quarantine facilities since July 17 — less than 4 per cent of the 65,000 travellers that have come into the Territory since border measures shifted to focus on hot spots.
But the government could be left millions of dollars out of pocket considering the amount people pay— $2500 per person or up to $5000 per family — does not cover the estimated actual cost of at least $3300 per person.
Mr Gunner said the government was looking to adjust the cost, mentioning a possible “Territory rate” and “other people rate”.
“At the moment we are probably charging slightly less than we should, we might be subsidising other states’ quarantine arrangements,” he said.
“Nothing is locked in yet, but the top priority will always be keeping Territorians safe. That will never change.”
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It is understood Health Minister Natasha Fyles’ new “national resilience” portfolio includes working with the federal government to figure out how the Howard Springs facility can play a “long-term role” for Australia.
There has been speculation some travellers were attempting to bypass Queensland’s hard-line border control measures by first spending two weeks in the Territory.
NT government statistics showed of the 805 people in mandatory quarantine, 510 were considered “interstate residents” though how many of those were tourists, people moving for work or travellers attempting to hop into Queensland was unknown.
The rest of those currently in quarantine are either seasonal workers from Vanuatu or returning NT residents.
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Mr Gunner said he was not surprised people were footing the bill to quarantine in the NT and travellers — if COVID-19 safe — were welcome.
Borrowing Victoria’s old slogan, he said the Territory “is the place to be”.
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