Queensland Testing on Arrival centre locations and requirements
Apr 4, 22, 12:42 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LCY
Posts: 1,215
Any experiences from those who have arrived on international flights to Brisbane (from New Zealand, Qatar and Malaysia all seem to be scheduled at the moment).
Is it just a matter of booking an arrival RAT with the private provider at the BNE airport terminal?
Is it just a matter of booking an arrival RAT with the private provider at the BNE airport terminal?
Apr 13, 22, 8:23 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 487
Originally Posted by stewardo
Any experiences from those who have arrived on international flights to Brisbane (from New Zealand, Qatar and Malaysia all seem to be scheduled at the moment).
Is it just a matter of booking an arrival RAT with the private provider at the BNE airport terminal?
Is it just a matter of booking an arrival RAT with the private provider at the BNE airport terminal?
I believe you can also go directly to a place of isolation and do a test elsewhere as long as you take the test within 24 hours and isolate until a negative result.
Apr 19, 22, 4:21 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 487
New Queensland problem...
The current rules (as of 1 March checked 19 April) require a PCR test for a fully vaccinated arrival if ...
But as of this week NO country requires commonwealth pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated travellers. So does this mean all arrivals need a PCR test? Is there new legislation I've missed?
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system...vals-direction
The current rules (as of 1 March checked 19 April) require a PCR test for a fully vaccinated arrival if ...
- the country of departure is exempt from Commonwealth pre-departure testing requirements for entry to Australia.
But as of this week NO country requires commonwealth pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated travellers. So does this mean all arrivals need a PCR test? Is there new legislation I've missed?
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system...vals-direction
Apr 19, 22, 5:07 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 18,882
Originally Posted by tinkicker
Pretty much. Assuming you originated from a country where RAT is acceptable (some places it must be PCR) then you can book a test at one of the two providers,.....
Originally Posted by tinkicker
New Queensland problem.....
https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/
https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/gover...ealth-measures
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/condit...eas#vaccinated [Last updated: 3 April 2022]
Entering Queensland as a fully vaccinated international arrival
If you are a fully vaccinated international arrival entering Queensland, you must get a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of your arrival in Queensland and quarantine at your residence, accommodation or boat (leaving only if necessary to obtain a COVID-19 test at an approved Queensland Government COVID-19 testing centre) until you receive a negative result.
The COVID-19 test must be a PCR test if you are a fully vaccinated international arrival and you:
You must travel directly to your place of quarantine by private vehicle, hire car, taxi, endorsed transport provider or ride share without stopping other than to obtain a COVID-19 test at an approved Queensland Government COVID-19 testing centre.
You must not use public transport to travel to your place of quarantine, unless you’ve had a COVID-19 test and returned a negative result (and then you will not be required to quarantine).
If your test result is positive, follow First steps if you have COVID-19.
If you are an international arrival who got tested for COVID-19 in another State or Territory within 24 hours of arrival in Australia and received a negative test result, you do not have to get tested within 24 hours of arrival in Queensland nor quarantine.
If you are a fully vaccinated international arrival entering Queensland, you must get a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of your arrival in Queensland and quarantine at your residence, accommodation or boat (leaving only if necessary to obtain a COVID-19 test at an approved Queensland Government COVID-19 testing centre) until you receive a negative result.
The COVID-19 test must be a PCR test if you are a fully vaccinated international arrival and you:
- have recovered from COVID-19 within the past 30 days, or
- have COVID-19 symptoms on arrival, or
- the country you departed from is exempt from Commonwealth pre-departure testing requirements for entry to Australia.
You must travel directly to your place of quarantine by private vehicle, hire car, taxi, endorsed transport provider or ride share without stopping other than to obtain a COVID-19 test at an approved Queensland Government COVID-19 testing centre.
You must not use public transport to travel to your place of quarantine, unless you’ve had a COVID-19 test and returned a negative result (and then you will not be required to quarantine).
If your test result is positive, follow First steps if you have COVID-19.
If you are an international arrival who got tested for COVID-19 in another State or Territory within 24 hours of arrival in Australia and received a negative test result, you do not have to get tested within 24 hours of arrival in Queensland nor quarantine.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Apr 19, 22 at 10:14 am
Apr 19, 22, 6:16 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 487
Originally Posted by Mwenenzi
Are you arriving into AU direct into QLD? Or via another state?
https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/
https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/gover...ealth-measures
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/condit...eas#vaccinated
https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/
https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/gover...ealth-measures
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/condit...eas#vaccinated
Apr 21, 22, 5:10 am
#21
Join Date: May 2008
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ Elite, QF Plat, DL PM
Posts: 1,659
I'm flying direct into BNE from AKL in a couple of weeks. I was just planning on doing my own RAT when I arrived and taking a timestamped photo of the result in case queried.
Last edited by NZ_Flyer; Apr 21, 22 at 5:29 am
Apr 21, 22, 6:01 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 487
Originally Posted by NZ_Flyer
I'm flying direct into BNE from AKL in a couple of weeks. I was just planning on doing my own RAT when I arrived and taking a timestamped photo of the result in case queried.
COVID-19 RAT means a Rapid Antigen Test approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to detect whether the person has the COVID-19 virus.
From 17 April, the Australia Government no longer requires people travelling to Australia to have a COVID-19 test before arriving. The Quarantine for International Arrivals Direction will be updated shortly.
Apr 21, 22, 7:56 pm
#23
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Originally Posted by tinkicker
It's still doubtful that it is lawful to enter Queensland without doing a PCR test. However there is an update in progress , this has been posted on the Queensland govt site:
Apr 21, 22, 9:28 pm
#24
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Join Date: Apr 2001
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Originally Posted by bensyd
Where does it say you can't enter without a PCR test? There was reference to having a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival if arriving from a country that the Commonwealth does not require a pre-departure test for but that appears to have been dropped from the guidelines since Federal government dropped the testing requirement.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Apr 21, 22 at 9:34 pm
Apr 21, 22, 11:37 pm
#25
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 18,882
When do you arrive?
22 Apr 2022 (abc.net.au)-->Queensland's COVID-19 close contact quarantine requirements to ease from next Thursday
Will need to look at the QLD govt web sites for the details
22 Apr 2022 (abc.net.au)-->Queensland's COVID-19 close contact quarantine requirements to ease from next Thursday
Key points:
It comes after New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT announced a relaxing of quarantine rules this week.
<snip>
Quarantine scrapped for unvaccinated international arrivals
Quarantine requirements for unvaccinated international travellers will also be scrapped from next Thursday. International arrivals will only need to return a negative COVID test within 24 hours of arriving and test further if they develop symptoms.
<snip>
- Health Minister Yvette D'Ath says the state is expected to see an increase in cases after quarantine rules are lifted
- She said it was time for individuals and workplaces to determine the response to those exposed to COVID
- New rules come into effect as of 6pm on April 28
It comes after New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT announced a relaxing of quarantine rules this week.
<snip>
Quarantine scrapped for unvaccinated international arrivals
Quarantine requirements for unvaccinated international travellers will also be scrapped from next Thursday. International arrivals will only need to return a negative COVID test within 24 hours of arriving and test further if they develop symptoms.
<snip>
Apr 24, 22, 10:55 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
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Posts: 7,039
Thanks for the posts and links upthread. I am still confused though - looking at an intl. arrival into BNE on the 28th (but in the morning, and changes taking effect at 6pm that evening only seem to be affecting unvaccinated travellers, which I am not). Do I need to do a PCR test on arrival (since for the country of my departure, Germany, the Commonwealth does not require pre-departure tests) or is an antigen test enough? It's a $20 / 60min to results difference at the BNE airport lab.
Apr 24, 22, 2:55 pm
#27
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 487
Originally Posted by airoli
Thanks for the posts and links upthread. I am still confused though - looking at an intl. arrival into BNE on the 28th (but in the morning, and changes taking effect at 6pm that evening only seem to be affecting unvaccinated travellers, which I am not). Do I need to do a PCR test on arrival (since for the country of my departure, Germany, the Commonwealth does not require pre-departure tests) or is an antigen test enough? It's a $20 / 60min to results difference at the BNE airport lab.
i went through the airport this weekend and did the rapid test on arrival with an airport place. chatting to people on the flight there was a general confusion.
In the end I was persuaded that the intent of the law is you test on arrival. And it only requires that test to be a pcr if “exempt commonwealth pre departure testing”. But that specific word ‘exempt’ in English means not required to do something others are required to do and you cannot be “exempt” from something that does not exist. (It’s the opposite to the argument I made up thread)
You may interpret it differently. the sample taker pointed out the number of people attending has collapsed since the 18th so clearly they all think they can just home test.
Apr 24, 22, 6:54 pm
#28
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Originally Posted by tinkicker
In the end I was persuaded that the intent of the law is you test on arrival. And it only requires that test to be a pcr if “exempt commonwealth pre departure testing”. But that specific word ‘exempt’ in English means not required to do something others are required to do and you cannot be “exempt” from something that does not exist. (It’s the opposite to the argument I made up thread)
Most of the few remaining rules are just for show.
Apr 30, 22, 3:54 am
#29
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 487
The rules have been updated and are now quite clear.
Qld govt page
Qld govt page
As an international arrival who has been outside of Australia in the last 7 days, you must take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arriving. You must then travel as directly as practicable using an endorsed transport provider to a residence or accommodation (cabin on a cruise liner, boat or government-nominated accommodation) until a negative result is received.
Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) endorsed by ATAGI are an acceptable form of COVID-19 test for international arrivals. A RAT can be undertaken at the airport after arriving. A RAT is not recommended for a child under the age of 2 years. A COVID-19 PCR test should be used instead.
Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) endorsed by ATAGI are an acceptable form of COVID-19 test for international arrivals. A RAT can be undertaken at the airport after arriving. A RAT is not recommended for a child under the age of 2 years. A COVID-19 PCR test should be used instead.
May 1, 22, 1:20 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
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Posts: 7,039
I arrived BNE last week and throughout the immigration process, nobody asked me about my test plans or indeed told me I should take one. As an obedient guest to Oz, I had prepaid a RAT at the airport lab, and duly proceeded there right away to be tested. The facility was deserted and the nurse had no idea what I should do with the test result once received.
So I am just hanging on to my negative result now in case somebody ever asks for it.
It does feel a bit disproportionate to have this test requirement, but not any process or enforcement around it, and then very lax Covid rules in everyday QLD life....
So I am just hanging on to my negative result now in case somebody ever asks for it.
It does feel a bit disproportionate to have this test requirement, but not any process or enforcement around it, and then very lax Covid rules in everyday QLD life....
