Should New Zealand make returnees pay for the costs of their managed isolation?
On Friday, New South Wales announced a new policy where all travellers will be charged AU$3000 for the cost of their quarantine.
"Australian residents have been given plenty of time to return home, and we feel it is only fair that they cover some of the costs of their hotel accommodation," said state premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Each person returning to New Zealand is required to stay in managed isolation for two weeks, which costs the country around $4000 per person. The total sum had hit over $80 million by the end of June and $298 million has been appropriated to pay for it for the rest of 2020.
The Government is currently looking at introducing a co-payment scheme which could see returning Kiwis partly pay for their stay in a facility.
Megan Woods, the minister in charge of the facilities, said in June it's a "complicated policy" as legally New Zealanders have a right to return to their home country.
"In terms of what the regime that will be put in place around charging, it won't be 'would you like to pay', there will be rules and that will have a system set up," she said.
"We won't just be asking people to make a donation, we will have a scheme in place that is fair and balances the right of New Zealanders to return home."
Should returnees be expected to pay for the cost of their managed isolation? Vote in the poll below.
