Queensland hotel quarantine pause to ease earlier than expected

A pause on permitting arrivals from interstate into Queensland's hotel quarantine system will ease from Saturday, 4 September, allowing residents to return from hotspots in limited numbers.

It comes just a week after the State Government took steps to slow down the influx of Australians from locked-down areas relocating to the Sunshine State, placing a pause on arrivals into hotel quarantine.

At the time, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the pause would last two weeks, but more room has been made available, allowing the restrictions to ease sooner than expected.

“The pause has only just begun so our quarantine remains under considerable strain,” the Premier said.

“But I have listened to those who are undergoing considerable hardship and ordered authorities to begin assisting as soon as possible.”

Starting Saturday, 4 September:

• 50 additional hotel rooms will become available
• These additional rooms will be given to returning Queenslanders or people relocating to Queensland who have been prioritised for entry early
• More will be offered as they become available

Officials will contact approved applicants.

From Monday, 6 September, the application process will reopen to those seeking to relocate to the State as well as returning Queenslanders. However, those wishing to relocate will have to prove they are genuine either with proof of employment or change of residential status.

Queensland reported no new cases of COVID-19 today, in contrast to the 1,116 new local cases in New South Wales, 120 in Victoria and 23 in the Australian Capital Territory.

Updated at 12.17pm AEST on 1 September 2021.

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