The Public Health Directions and other measures implemented to respond to COVID-19 were critical to Queensland’s success in managing the spread of infection, enabling us to start on the road back from the pandemic.
The quarantine fee reduces the financial burden of COVID-19 prevention measures on Queensland taxpayers. The total fee, which is a contribution to the overall cost of government arranged accommodation, will help repay the government for the cost of providing quarantine.
If you were directed to isolate or quarantine in government-nominated accommodation, you are liable to pay part of the overall cost of your accommodation in accordance with the Public Health Act 2005 (the Act). Individuals in Queensland must comply with the Act and Public Health Directions made by the Chief Health Officer under the Act.
It is Queensland law that a person who is directed to quarantine in government arranged accommodation is liable to pay the fee or any part of the fee which has not otherwise been waived.
Quarantine fee invoicing
Item
Rates from 1 July 2021
1 adult (1 room)
$3,220
2 adults (1 room)
$4,130
2 adults and 2 children (1 room)
(fee calculated on 2 adults and 2 children aged 3 years or older and under 13 years)
$5,040
Payment plans and quarantine fee waivers are available in eligible circumstances. If you undertook quarantine prior to 1 July 2021, your fees will be different to the fees listed here.
Costs and service inclusions
The costs are calculated as per the following table. Under the Public Health Act 2005, Queensland Health are required to invoice people who undertook quarantine at these rates in line with the relevant legislation.
Description
Rates from 1 July 2021
Hotel room
$165 per room per night
Meals
$65 for a person 13 years or older per day
$32.50 for a minor/ child between 3–12 years of age per day
$0 for a child under 3 years
From 1 July 2021, a minor/child is defined as between 3-12 years of age for meal charges
An infant aged up to 3 years of age will not be charged for meal or accommodation costs
Hotels were contracted for the purposes of quarantine and were not operating in accordance with their usual services. Due to the nature of quarantine, there was no access to shared facilities (e.g. gym, pool) and rooms could not be cleaned daily by hotel staff.
Invoice information
Your invoice was sent to your nominated email or home address as provided at the time of your entry to Queensland. Once issued to you, payment was required within 30 days of the date stated on the invoice.
Section 362MD of the Public Health Act 2005 indicates that individuals are liable to pay the fee prescribed in the Public Health Regulation 2018 for undertaking quarantine. As per legislation, all quarantine invoices are raised in the name and details of the individual who undertook quarantine.
An employer’s name can be added to the invoice as ‘care of’ for the purposes of 3rd party payments on request by emailing FBC-Receipting@health.qld.gov.au. However, the responsibility for payment of the invoice remains with the individual.
Incorrect invoices
Carefully read through the fee information above and your invoice details. Check that your personal details and amounts match your invoice.
If you are still concerned the amount charged is incorrect, contact the Finance Business Centre via FBC-Receipting@health.qld.gov.au or (07) 3170 4218.
Payment was required 30 days from the date the invoice was issued.
If you have an active application for a full or partial fee waiver, the payment terms of the invoice will be paused until an outcome is determined. Upon receiving an outcome, if there is an amount owing, payment is required within 14 days.
How to pay
Details of how to pay will appear on your invoice. Payment options include BPAY, BPOINT, Post billpay and direct deposit. Each payment option will generate a receipt. Use this receipt along with your invoice to support any claims.
Overdue payments of quarantine fees may be referred to a debt collection agency. The debt collection agency will manage queries about the debt.
Payment plans
If you are unable to make full payment of the quarantine fee invoice by the due date, you can request to enter into a payment plan agreement to repay the invoice over a period of time via the Quarantine Fee Payment Plan portal.
If you require assistance in using the Quarantine Fee Payment Plan portal please contact us via email FBC-Receipting@health.qld.gov.au or by calling (07) 3170 4218.
If your request is approved, you will be issued a payment plan agreement for the quarantine fee invoice outlining the full terms and conditions.
COVID-19 fee waiver applications closed
Fee waiver applications closed at 11:59pm on 31 August 2022.
If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria and have extenuating circumstances that either prevented you from submitting your application prior to this deadline or prevented you from requesting a review of your outcome within 14 days of notification, please contact feewaiver@health.qld.gov.au.
To ensure there is enough information to consider your request, please provide a description of your exceptional circumstances for the delay and relevant supporting documentation for consideration (e.g. if you have been hospitalised for an extended period of time since your invoice was issued, please include a medical certificate with your description).
If, after exhausting the above options, you remain unsatisfied with the outcome, you can contact the Queensland Ombudsman.
Eligibility
You may be eligible for a fee waiver under the grounds of financial hardship.
Each application under the grounds of financial hardship will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Each adult on the invoice must be able to demonstrate eligibility in order for their portion of the invoice to be waived.
The following scenarios are designed to provide guidance on mandatory evidence which must be provided.
Queensland Health will advise, at time of assessment, if additional documentation is required. It is important to provide sufficient evidence to assist in processing your application accurately.
If providing Centrelink documentation for consideration, these records can be requested through Centrelink online via your myGov portal under Documents and Appointments.
An application on the grounds of financial hardship will be assessed based on the following criteria:
Scenario
Criteria
Substantiating documents (documents you may need)
Unemployed
Received full-time Centrelink benefits through one of the following:
JobSeeker payment
Youth Allowance for Job Seekers
Disability Support Pension
Carers Payment (full-time)
Age Pension
Austudy
ABSTUDY
Evidence required:
Queensland Health invoice
Complete Centrelink documentation from one of the eligible services showing:
name
payment type
amount
payment frequency and dates (dates of payments must be between date of quarantine and date of fee waiver application to be eligible).
People who have limited savings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
The person must be:
an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and
have no more than $10,000 cash or savings (per adult identified on the quarantine fee waiver application)
Evidence required:
Queensland Health invoice
Australian birth certificate, citizenship certificate, passport or Visa Entitlement Verification Online, IMMICard documentation
All bank statements held in your name showing complete transactions for a 3-month period and closing balances totalling less than $10,000 (per adult identified on the quarantine fee waiver application)
If applicable, include:
Evidence to demonstrate loss of a business entity, home or possessions due to COVID 19
Evidence of receiving JobKeeper payment through the Australian Taxation Office or your employer
Additional evidence of excessive costs incurred by COVID-19 that will hinder your ability to pay your fee waiver (e.g. documentation of excessive costs to relocate back to Australia from overseas)
Letters from employers advising of changes to employment or reduced hours
Payslips
Statutory declaration
You are required to provide bank statements for all accounts held in your name (including linked accounts) showing name of account holder, complete transactions for a 3-month consecutive period between the date of quarantine commencement and today's date and closing balances totalling less than $10,000 (per adult identified on the invoice). The 3-month consecutive period is to be the same for all bank accounts.
This financial hardship guide has been developed to assist you in your application – please note that this is a guide only and does not constitute a complete list of circumstances.
You may be able to request a fee waiver on grounds of vulnerability – this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Anyone who is considered a vulnerable person (or carer) may apply for a waiver on the grounds of vulnerability even if they do not meet the criteria for financial hardship. To be considered for assessment under vulnerability, you must be able to demonstrate how your vulnerability affects your ability to meet your financial obligations.
The following are examples of where vulnerability may be considered grounds for a quarantine fee waiver:
Scenario
Examples that may be considered
Substantiating documents (documents you may need)
Vulnerable person or primary carer for a vulnerable person
a person who identifies as a refugee and/or application based on humanitarian reasons
a person with serious illness/disability who is unable to care for themselves or necessitating immediate travel to Queensland
a person unable to protect themselves against harm or exploitation as a result of age, illness, trauma, disability or other reason
a person escaping from domestic, family or sexual violence
a person performing the role of primary carer for a person who may be considered as vulnerable
Evidence required:
Queensland Health Invoice
Statement of reasons
Include if applicable:
Visas including Protection Visas
Police reports
Birth certificate
Statutory declaration
Medical records/letter from doctor
Letter from registered Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) provider or court order (i.e., Domestic Violence Order)
Evidence of carer status
Centrelink documentation
Bank statements
Other relevant financial information
This vulnerability guide has been developed to assist you in your application – please note that this is a guide only and does not constitute a complete list of circumstances.
When applying for a travel fee waiver, the decision will be made on the following criteria:
Scenario
Criteria
Substantiating documents (documents you may need)
Travelers who had a confirmed international arrival date into Queensland before midnight on 17 June 2020, even if they arrive after 1 July 2020.
Travel was booked before midnight 17 June 2020
Actual arrival was after July 1
Flight delayed/diverted/cancelled resulting in arrival after July 1
Evidence required:
Copy of Queensland Health invoice
Original travel itinerary / eTicket which includes the date of issue
Notification of the travel being cancelled issued by the airline and/or travel company
Reissued travel itinerary / eTicket which includes the date of arrival into Brisbane
If applicable:
Other relevant information
Travelers who had an international flight diverted to Queensland whose original destination was another state
Travel was booked before original destination state introduced quarantine fees:
Victoria: travellers who purchased their flights before 11.59 pm 10 July 2020 AEST
NSW: travellers who purchased their flights before 11.59 pm 12 July 2020 AEST
South Australia: travellers who purchased their flights before 11.59 pm ACST on 13 July 2020
Actual arrival date was after state introduced requirements (as above)
Actual arrival was diverted/cancelled from original destination
Evidence required
Copy of Queensland Health invoice
Original travel itinerary/eTicket which includes the date of issue
Notification of the travel being cancelled or diverted issued by the airline and/or travel company
Reissued travel itinerary/eTicket which includes the date of arrival into Brisbane
If applicable:
Other relevant information
In the case of onward travel following your quarantine period to your intended original destination, you are required to provide evidence of this travel (e.g. e-ticket or flight itinerary).
When an applicant’s customer statement or supporting evidence relates to circumstances already captured by the prescribed categories, and in the absence of exceptional circumstances, the application is sub-categorised to be assessed with the relevant criteria.
Other - compassionate grounds
If an applicant’s statement or evidence cites unfortunate circumstances including travel for personal medical reasons, caring for others, life events (including funerals) or domestic violence, these applications are sub-categorised to ‘Other – Compassionate grounds’ and are assessed against the ‘Vulnerability’ eligibility criteria. Only those applicants entering Queensland to perform carer duties may be eligible for a fee waiver under the carer class of vulnerability. Applicants returning to Queensland after performing carer duties are not considered eligible.
Other - experience dissatisfaction
If an applicant’s statement or evidence cites dissatisfaction relating to food, hygiene, cleanliness, accommodation standards and the overall experience of hotel quarantine, these applications are sub-categorised to ‘Other – Experience Dissatisfaction’. Fee waivers are not approved on the basis of dissatisfaction with the experience of quarantine itself.
Other - financial hardship
If an applicant’s statement or evidence cites direct or indirect circumstances surrounding an inability to pay their invoice, these applications are sub-categorised to ‘Other – Financial Hardship’ and are assessed against the ‘Financial Hardship’ eligibility criteria.
Other - travelling with awareness
If an applicant’s statement or evidence cites personal or work travel with knowledge of the current COVID-19 environment, or where there is reasonable expectation to be aware of border restrictions and the possibility of requirement to quarantine at the time of travel (irrespective of alternative advice received at the time), these applications are sub-categorised to ‘Other – Travelling with Awareness’. Fee waivers are not approved in these circumstances as it is considered reasonable that travellers were aware of the need to quarantine at the time of returning to Queensland and have subsequently chosen to travel with this knowledge.
Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Please provide any relevant evidence to support your application.
If any additional information is required to progress your application, we will contact you.
You will not be required to pay any amount until we determine the outcome of your application.
Review for declined or partially approved fee waiver application
If your application for a quarantine fee waiver has not been approved or was partially approved, the reasons for the decision will be provided in the notice of the decision you receive.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome and have additional information that may substantially influence the decision, you may request a review. A request must be made within 14 days of the notice of the decision being sent.
To request a review you must put your request in writing via feewaiver@health.qld.gov.au, including any additional relevant documentation (you can use the eligibility guide above as an example of what documents to include).
The review will only consider the additional information provided in conjunction with the evidence provided in the original application. All additional information must be provided at the time of review submission.
If you wish for anyone to act on your behalf, you will be required to provide written permission to do so. A ‘Nomination of Representative’ form can be issued upon request by emailing feewaiver@health.qld.gov.au.
Support services
Sometimes you may need extra help to get through a difficult time. For free, confidential, independent financial advice visit moneysmart.gov.au or call the national debt helpline on 1800 007 007.
Free additional support and advice for anyone experiencing difficulties is available from the following services:
Lifeline - 13 11 14 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
