Queensland Premier announces important update about hotel quarantine

After a break in hotel quarantine intake, Queensland will permit a small number of people back into the state from hotspots across the country starting this Saturday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said today that just 50 families would be allowed into the hotel quarantine system.

The decision sparked outrage in the community, after NRL players’ spouses, children, and staff were flown into Queensland on Monday afternoon, despite hundreds of families and stranded citizens trapped interstate being unable to return home.

Important update about hotel quarantine 👇 pic.twitter.com/26RtPMsEsD

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— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 1, 2021

In a statement posted to social media today, Ms Palaszczuk said despite the pause on new hotel quarantine arrivals last Wednesday, a small amount of space had opened up to let some stranded residents return home.

She stated that as more space is created, more spots will become available.

Annastacia Palaszczuk announces easing of restrictions in Queensland

Restrictions in South East Queensland have been removed after the country recorded another day with zero local cases of COVID-19.

In hotel quarantine, there were two cases of COVID 19 identified in travelers. Because the state hasn’t had an active case in the community for 20 days, a number of restrictions were lifted at 4 p.m. today.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro had contacted the Queensland government about cooperating on the present issue at the Queensland-NSW border, according to Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles.

Moving the border further south, either to the Tweed River or possibly to the southern end of the Tweed Shire, has been suggested as a viable solution. The Queensland government had already made that idea to New South Wales, but it had been rejected.

The border is currently closed to all people from NSW save for a small handful of essential workers, causing havoc in the border towns of Tweed and Coolangatta for families and businesses.

“Of course we will work with them to put in place any measures we can to keep the border safe but minimise its impact to the extent that it is possible,” Mr Miles said.