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Returned travellers may have to pay for 14-day hotel quarantine in Australia

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Australian Border Force officers talk with New Zealand passengers from the Vasco Da Gama cruise ship before checking in for their Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. Photo / Getty Images

Australian Border Force officers talk with New Zealand passengers from the Vasco Da Gama cruise ship before checking in for their Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. Photo / Getty Images

news.com.au

Returning travellers may soon have to pay for their own hotel quarantine with state governments considering charging Australians for the 14-day stays.

Since March, millions of dollars have been spent on accommodating international travellers in hotels as part of 14-day forced isolation to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Australian Border Force officers talk with New Zealand passengers from the Vasco Da Gama cruise ship before checking in for their Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. Photo / Getty Images
Australian Border Force officers talk with New Zealand passengers from the Vasco Da Gama cruise ship before checking in for their Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. Photo / Getty Images

Today, the National cabinet may consider whether to start charging travellers, with Queensland reportedly pushing for the change. However, NSW and Victoria have said they will continue paying.

READ MORE:
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• Covid 19 coronavirus: Life in Auckland quarantine hotel
• Covid 19 coronavirus: Mother and children 'treated like prisoners' in quarantine hotel
• Covid-19 coronavirus: Family put up in luxury Auckland hotel for two-week quarantine

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is also expected to push states to agree on a date in July to re-open their borders for interstate travel, news.com.au reports.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, NSW has spent more than $16 million since March 28 on quarantine accommodation for more than 20,700 people.