Number of invoices pushed out for hotel quarantine in the NT reduced to a trickle after IT issues

The amount of hotel quarantine bills being issued to travellers that owe the NT Government money has trickled to just a handful, with authorities blaming IT issues.

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THE amount of hotel quarantine bills being issued to travellers who owe the NT government money has trickled to just a handful, with authorities blaming IT issues.

Between March 24 and June 15, when all travellers into the NT had to spend two weeks in supervised quarantine in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus, 2316 people were put into hotels across the Territory.

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Authorities, by July 30, had sent out 1004 invoices to claw back the mandatory hotel quarantine fee of $2500 per person or up to $5000 for a family but the flow of bills has slowed to a trickle since then.

It comes amid debate about whether the NT should raise forced quarantine fees to ensure taxpayers aren’t left millions of dollars out of pocket as some travellers use the Territory’s nation-leading Howard Springs facility, which cost $2.9 million to set up, as a back door to states like Queensland.

Since the end of July to September 10, the NT government sent out just 13 invoices to individuals, families or businesses.

A Darwin woman heard to be complaining loudly as ravellers arrive at Darwin International Airport as all Interstate arrivals require 14 days in Quarantine. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

Of the 1017 invoices issued so far, 406, or 40 per cent, have been paid in full.

A SecureNT spokesman said the issue lay in a new IT system that needed to be built to “manage the quarantine fee invoice and payment system”.

“Some challenges were experienced in the initial stages. These issues have now been resolved,” he said.

“All outstanding invoices will be actively pursued and subject to normal NT government debt recovery actions. Where necessary, this will include debt collectors and possible court action.”

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said there shouldn’t be “excuses” at a time when the Territory “needs every cent”.

A total of 1620 invoices had been sent to travellers forced to quarantine in the disused miners village at Howard Springs or the old Mercure in Alice Springs since July 17 when border restrictions shifted to the hot spot model.

As at September 10, 2650 people had flowed through either facility.

But as people have 90 days to settle invoices, none have been paid thus far.

A total of 407 hardship claims had been approved, meaning those bills had been slashed by 50 per cent upon someone proving they were low-income earners that made $52,706 a year or less, or $68,894 a year or less for families.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner this week revealed the prospect of increasing the cost of mandatory quarantine was being discussed with the commonwealth, as the actual cost is “a lot more” than the $2500 per person or up to $5000 for a family that people are currently being charged for a two- week stint at the disused miners village.

“The Territory is carrying a heavy load of quarantine while others get the benefits,” he said. “It is getting a bit annoying, and it is costing us money.”

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