Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (Photo: Twitter)

August 4, 2020

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced Queensland will ensure consular and diplomatic staff returning from overseas or from interstate hotspots will go into hotel quarantine.

The announcement follows the recent revelation that a security worker returning from Afghanistan was allowed to drive home to self-quarantine in Toowoomba.

The Premier said she would like a nationally consistent approach “but we just can’t wait”.

“Once again, Queensland will go it alone to protect Queenslanders,” the Premier said.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said she would act immediately.

“This exemption is a problem. We’ve seen that in Queensland this week,” she said.

“A person was able to arrive in Queensland from overseas on a consular exemption, and he had COVID-19.

“I am very grateful to this person – he did all the right things – but he was granted an exemption from hotel quarantine.

“We can no longer allow this. With the high cases overseas, the risk is simply too high.”

Dr Young said from Wednesday, exemptions to hotel quarantine would only be granted in extremely extenuating circumstances, in line with current arrangements for anyone entering Queensland from overseas or a hotspot.

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