COVID-19: New South Wales – may charge for mandatory 14 day Quarantine for international arrivals
At a press conference today, Gladys Berejiklian the Premier of New South Wales (NSW) gave the clearest indication yet, that the state government is planning to start charging for the 14 days compulsory quarantine in an approved hotel for international arrivals.
Your Quarantine will also include mandatory COVID-19 testing, although frequencies are different in each state
You may have to pay for your quarantine
When this all started, state and territory governments covered the expense of your accommodation and food. With NSW alone having spent in excess of AU$50 million already, state governments are turning towards a more user-pays philosophy. Queensland and the Northern Territory have already commenced charging arrivals (with some exemptions for those booked to return prior to charging being implemented) and Western Australia and NSW are also talking about it. Victoria has no international arrivals for the next three weeks, and South Australia is still covering the cost.
However, if you are planning on returning to Australia, I would factor in the cost of a fortnights quarantine. Once NSW starts charging, you can bet other states will follow.
Here are the charges Queensland has imposed:
Fees and payment
The quarantine fee includes your accommodation and daily meals. It costs $2,800 for 1 adult, $3,710 for 2 adults, and $4,620 for 2 adults and 2 children.
At the end of your quarantine, you will get an invoice to pay within 30 days.
Payment plans are available if you cannot pay by the due date. Details will be on the invoice.
You may also apply to have the fee waived after you get the invoice.Queensland Quarantine advice
2PAXfly Takeout
This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.
The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.
Expect NSW to charge something similar – if not more, given the cost of hotels in Sydney.
A lot of different hotels are being used across Sydney from the Sofitel in Darling Harbour to the Pullman on Hyde Park. The smart money says, you should opt for the Sofitel Wentworth, as they have french windows and tiny balconies that open onto a central u-shaped atrium. Unfortunately, I don’t think Border Force or the AFP or the NSW Police, or whoever is in charge let you choose.
Word is that most now let you get Uber Eats delivered.
What did you say?