More QLD families allowed into hotel quarantine this weekend

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed 50 Queensland families will be allowed into hotel quarantine this weekend.

By Dominique Tassell

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced in State Parliament this morning that 50 families will be accepted into hotel quarantine this weekend.

Queensland paused intake to the hotel quarantine system last Wednesday, stating it was full.

In Parliament, the Premier stated that in the month of August the state had 5044 domestic air arrivals and 6072 international arrivals.

She said “we keep some capacity because we don’t know when the charter flights are coming in”.

She confirmed the state is taking two additional plane flights from Afghanistan, which they are “happy to do”.

“So yes, our hotels are full.”

She stated that as soon as there is availability people will be allowed in to the hotel quarantine system.

When she annunced the pause, the Premier said “this is about keeping Queenslanders safe”.

“Queensland is being loved to death.

“We have been overwhelmed by new arrivals from interstate hotspots relocating to Queensland to escape lockdowns in New South Wales and Victoria.

“While we have allowed genuine relocations for work and other purposes, it has overwhelmed our hotels and it has to be stopped at least for the next fortnight.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said these measures are about keeping Queensland safe.

“The pressures on hotel quarantine are simply unsustainable,” the minister said.

“We never know how many domestic arrivals we have from day to day.

“So far we have been able to accommodate them and I appreciate this is a major inconvenience, but we our first priority must be keeping Queenslanders safe.”