The Queensland government has increased the cost of hotel quarantine for passengers arriving in the state from overseas or from declared COVID-19 hotspots in Australia.
From 1 July 2021, the cost of 14 days of quarantine for one adult in a Brisbane hotel rose from $2,800 to $3,220. The price for two adults sharing a room increased from $3,710 to $4,130. And the cost for a family of four sharing a room (with two children aged 13-17 years old) was pushed up from $4,620 to $5,950.
The increased charges are due to the Queensland government increasing the base price for a hotel room from $135 to $165 per night. Children between 13-17 years old are also now being charged the full adult rate for meals of $65 per day, instead of the lower price of $32.50 for children which now only applies to children aged 3-12.
The higher quarantine fees apply to anyone entering hotel quarantine in Queensland on or after 1 July 2021.
One day after the new fees came into effect, the Queensland government pushed for National Cabinet to halve the number of people allowed to arrive in Australia from overseas. National Cabinet accepted the proposal which will leave tens of thousands more Australians stuck overseas – some now facing imminent homelessness.
While all Australian states and territories charge for hotel quarantine, Queensland was the only state to raise its prices at the beginning of the current financial year. Other states have not increased their prices since they began charging returning travellers for mandatory hotel quarantine in July 2020.
How much does hotel quarantine cost in Australia?
The hotel quarantine cost in Australia depends on which state you’re arriving in, and the number of people sharing a room. Here are the prices for each Australian state & territory:
| 1 adult | 2 adults | 2 adults & 1 child | 2 adults & 2 children | |
| NSW | $3,000 | $4,000 | $4,500 | $5,000 |
| VIC | $3,000 | $4,000 | $4,500 | $5,000 |
| SA | $3,000 | $4,000 | $4,500 | $5,000 |
| QLD | $3,220 | $4,130 | $4,585-$5,040 | $5,040-$5,950 |
| WA | $2,520 | $3,360 | $4,200 | $5,040 |
| NT | $2,500 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| TAS | $2,800 | $3,800 | $4,300 | $4,800 |
The cost includes hotel accommodation and meals for 14 days.
The ACT is no longer accepting international repatriation flights, and therefore is no longer running a hotel quarantine program in Canberra. When the ACT was running hotel quarantine, the fees were the same as those in NSW, Victoria or South Australia.
Hotel quarantine fee waivers & reductions
Each state does offer payment exemptions and/or fee reductions to some people, based on their own criteria. For example, you may be able to apply to get the fee waived if you had booked your ticket back to Australia prior to July 2020 or due to financial hardship. Some states also offer payment plans.
There is generally no charge for infants aged under 3 years old sharing a room with an adult/s. The exception is Western Australia, which does not have a fee for children aged under 6 years old. However, WA charges children aged 6 and over at the full adult rate.
For more information about hotel quarantine fees & exemptions in each state, check the relevant state government website:
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Australia to Reduce Incoming Int. Passenger Capacity from July 2021
