All international travelers will be quarantined in hotels or designated facilities

[Gremlin]

Brisbane Times is reporting that Qld will start charging users for quarantine from 1 July. $2,800 for a single person. $3,710 for a couple. $4,165 and $4,620 for two adults and one/two children respectively. All assuming to be together in one room.

Edited to add: Apparently this was given the go ahead at National Cabinet. Also, NSW and Vic don't intend to charge at this stage, but interestingly NSW is apparently planning on billing other states for their returned travellers who have come thru SYD.

 

[freebo]

interestingly NSW is apparently planning on billing other states for their returned travellers who have come thru SYD.

Doesn't this just mean that anyone who has to unavoidably travel overseas will choose to do so via Sydney?

 

[Mattg]

Brisbane Times article here - Queensland to charge travellers up to $200 a night for quarantine

Apparently there will be "hardship exemptions" but the details are not yet worked out.

 

[Gremlin]

Doesn't this just mean that anyone who has to unavoidably travel overseas will choose to do so via Sydney?

At the moment there is already a differentiation between 'returned travellers' and 'those unavoidably travelling overseas'. For example, I have a mate who is currently sitting out two weeks quarantine in another country before he has three days of business in that country before travelling home through SYD (with the privilege of another two weeks quarantine). He was given an exemption to leave on the condition that he (his employer) pay the quarantine expenses in both countries (interestingly, quite a bit more than the rates Qld are proposing). So 'those unavoidably travelling' are already being asked to stump up quarantine expenses regardless of port of arrival. I don't think the intention is to change this.

From what I understand here, they are talking about returned travellers. Qld has taken the position that most would have had an option to fly back already had they so chosen to do so and their return to Australia is not a matter of unavoidable delay. NSW and Vic have yet to take that position. But surely they ultimately will.

I also think this is a precursor to whatever arrangement will become the norm as international travel slowly starts to open up. I can't see a scenario where I'd be allowed to holiday in the US next year and save myself $2,800 by routing through SYD rather than BNE.

 

[SydneySwan]

I also think this is a precursor to whatever arrangement will become the norm as international travel slowly starts to open up. I can't see a scenario where I'd be allowed to holiday in the US next year and save myself $2,800 by routing through SYD rather than BNE.

Maybe not but unless each state adopts the same charge there may be an arbitrage opportunity in routing via different states, e.g. if state A charges $2000 and state B $3000.

 

[p--and--t]

Maybe not but unless each state adopts the same charge there may be an arbitrage opportunity in routing via different states, e.g. if state A charges $2000 and state B $3000.

That will get complicated, fare difference, plus domestic tag flight cost etc etc. Could start a whole new industry for TA's LOL

 

[Gremlin]

That will get complicated, fare difference, plus domestic tag flight cost etc etc. Could start a whole new industry for TA's LOL

At that magnitude of $$, not to mention the expectation of a two week quarantine, methinks not a market that will compensate for where they were four months ago.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Just wondering is there a list of hotels being used for quarantine?

 

[DC3]

Just wondering is there a list of hotels being used for quarantine?

Do you intend to check them out?

Edit: Perhaps a COVID Quarantine Hotel run?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Just wondering is there a list of hotels being used for quarantine?

Well for a bit of fun and something different I did stay for a very enjoyable weekend at a Quarantine Hotel a little while back.

Unique Hotel Accommodation in Manly

Our Manly hotel offers accommodation, history and ghost tours, team building, an ideal location for weddings & conferences plus an award winning restaurant.

www.qstation.com.au

Read the history HERE

I highly recommend that people stay there.

 

[Flashback]

While we continue to sit here and wait for a visa (that normally takes <1 minute) we ponder whether it's worth coming. For us, we'd like to travel for mental health reasons but it seems the Government is blocking that out. I guess that is their prerogative.

 

[Pushka]

While we continue to sit here and wait for a visa (that normally takes <1 minute) we ponder whether it's worth coming. For us, we'd like to travel for mental health reasons but it seems the Government is blocking that out. I guess that is their prerogative.

There are so many suffering with stress and anxiety/mental health issues because of the complete inability to see loved ones overseas. And then there is the issue of iso within. A few of our family wanted to meet up with close family in UK for Christmas, one trying to get a Youth Visa before they turn 31 (January) and just well, all a bit messed up now. And I know there are plenty on this forum who can't travel to meet close loved ones. Just sucks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There are so many suffering with stress and anxiety/mental health issues because of the complete inability to see loved ones overseas. And then there is the issue of iso within. A few of our family wanted to meet up with close family in UK for Christmas, one trying to get a Youth Visa before they turn 31 (January) and just well, all a bit messed up now. And I know there are plenty on this forum who can't travel to meet close loved ones. Just sucks.

Is this a reality, in isolation by itself, or is it magnified because it is compounded with other covid-related hardships like unemployment, mounting debts and huge uncertainty about the future?

In and of itself, we're talking just 12 weeks of not being able to travel, so far. Not a world war with 5 years separation.

And unlike the world wars, there's a multitude of platforms to connect with each other.

There are exemptions for travel for compassionate grounds.

 

[Pushka]

Is this a reality, in isolation by itself, or is it magnified because it is compounded with other covid-related hardships like unemployment, mounting debts and huge uncertainty about the future?

In and of itself, we're talking just 12 weeks of not being able to travel, so far. Not a world war with 5 years separation.

12 weeks? It's already been 12 weeks and there is no sign of reopening for another 6 months! And clearly your partner isnt living overseas.
This FaceTime stuff? I get it but I don't do it anymore. Nor do we do zoom dinner parties. Just a reminder of what we can't have. Fake.
It is the uncertainty about no time schedule.

I do understand what you mean about distancing as with Dad being the Navy my parents were separated for many months at a time. But that was his choice to do that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There are compassionate grounds for those who need to travel, so no one should be ‘suffering’ in that sense. Not being able to travel freely for pleasure? That’s totally frustrating!

 

[DC3]

There are some winners here. Those not being able to spend a fortune this year for Christmas travel, to visit the M-I-L.

 

[Pushka]

There are compassionate grounds for those who need to travel, so no one should be ‘suffering’ in that sense. Not being able to travel freely for pleasure? That’s totally frustrating!

Given they have refused permission to two expectant fathers wanting to travel to UK and Japan to be at their child's birth, that consent seems rather difficult to get.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Given they have refused permission to two expectant fathers wanting to travel to UK and Japan to be at their child's birth, that consent seems rather difficult to get.

If I'm right you mentioned in another thread that your DIL wants to go back to the UK to be with her elderly parents? That could be grounds for compassionate travel.

 

[Pushka]

If I'm right you mentioned in another thread that your DIL wants to go back to the UK to be with her elderly parents? That could be grounds for compassionate travel.

Yes agree. I think if she could get a Drs letter in the UK stating - well, anything would be up for grabs, she could escape in possibly later December and it might be a little 'safer'. She does have an infant so she's in two minds worrying about him as well if she does go. She does need something to hang on to at the moment.

 

[PineappleSkip]

There are compassionate grounds for those who need to travel, so no one should be ‘suffering’ in that sense. Not being able to travel freely for pleasure? That’s totally frustrating!

I totally understand about the uncertainty - lack of control over your life is a classic stress inducer.

There is a thread on (I think) an Executive Traveller article about exemptions for overseas and it was clear that Customs don't feel the love and are taking a pretty hard line on Compassionate travel and I got the impression you don't get anywhere unless you have a strong case backed up by medical certificates etc. It's like people seeking to travel out on compassionate grounds are the invert of asylum seekers, and similarly difficult to obtain redress/review of their decisions.

Cheers skip