Queensland’s premier has asked police to investigate a letter used by a man to claim a diplomatic exemption from mandatory hotel quarantine.

August 4, 2020

Queensland police are investigating a federal government document used by a man to bypass hotel quarantine after he returned from coronavirus-ravaged Afghanistan.

The man in his 20s flew from Kabul to Sydney, then onto the Sunshine Coast, using diplomatic paperwork to avoid mandatory two-week isolation on arrival in Australia.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the man landed in Queensland on Friday with an exemption provided by the NSW authorities and a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade letter.

“If there is any suggestion that it is not an authentic letter, then that needs to be investigated by police,” she told reporters.

“We need it investigated and I have asked my department to (also) talk to DFAT.”

The man was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sunday and is now in self-isolation with his wife in Toowoomba.

It has since been revealed the man is not a consular staff member but a private security contractor.

“We are now in a situation where we need these loopholes closed,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“There is a lot of virus happening overseas. Everyone can see what is happening around the world.”

“It is not too much to be asking people who are returning from overseas to do the mandatory quarantining,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said she will also raise the issue at national cabinet on Friday.

It comes as health authorities continue their attempts to trace 14 people who were on the Jetstar flight with the man to Maroochydore on Friday.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said two passengers from the flight had left no contact details, as it was not a requirement on domestic routes.

“The airline cannot tell me how I can get hold of those people,” she said.