Hotel lockup costs hit $11m

THE Bill associated with placing people returning to Tasmania in enforced hotel quarantine hit almost $11m, an inquiry into the impacts of COVID-19 has heard.

The Public Accounts Committee COVID-19 Inquiry on Friday heard 3072 people arriving in Tasmania had been placed in enforced hotel quarantine since March and accommodating them cost the state $10.8m before a minimum $2800 fee was introduced in July.

At the peak of the pandemic there were almost 900 people in quarantine across 11 Tasmanian hotels. This week there are less than 300.

State Controller Darren Hine said Tasmania Police had been forced to deal “with a couple of runners” from hotel quarantine including a man who broke out to buy pies. In total, five arrests were made.

“Officers have also been called by private security guards to help with drug, alcohol and mental health issues at the hotels,” Commissioner Hine said.

At the peak of the pandemic, 40 people were working at the State Control Centre.

That number has now dropped to 20.

Commissioner Hine told the inquiry he did not review the essential traveller exemption granted to a hotel executive to enter the state and attend the opening of the Crowne Plaza.

“There was no point, it had already occurred,” Commissioner Hine said.

He described the exemption as “solid and sound”.

Opposition treasury spokesman David O’Byrne said the hearings confirmed the need for broader action to help Tasmania’s economic and social recovery.

Mr O’Byrne said the hearings confirmed that Tasmania’s economy was being kept alive by JobKeeper and JobSeeker.

“Just over 15,000 Tasmanian businesses – or 40 per cent – have accessed JobKeeper, supporting around 63,000 workers throughout the pandemic. And more than 34,000 people remain on JobSeeker,” he said.

“With both payments being wound back from next month, the state’s economy is edging closer to a cliff unless more is done to support job creation across all regions and sectors.”

helen.kempton@news.com.au