Queensland to allow in a small number of families from hotspots after quarantine pause

Queensland will allow a small number of people back into the state from hotspots around the country from this Saturday after a pause on the hotel quarantine intake.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced today that just 50 families would be permitted into the hotel quarantine system, which is at near-capacity.

The move follows intense backlash in the community after NRL players' wives, children and staff were flown into Queensland on Monday afternoon, despite hundreds of families and stranded residents who are trapped interstate being unable to return home.

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In a statement posted to social media today, Ms Palaszczuk said despite the pause on new hotel quarantine arrivals last Wednesday, a small amount of space had opened up to let some stranded residents return home.

She said more spots will become available once more space is made.

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The Queensland border is closed to all people from interstate hotspots like New South Wales and Victoria, save for a small handful of essential workers, creating chaos in particular for families and businesses in the NSW border towns of Tweed and Coolangatta.

Some residents were given as little as two hours' notice to get across when the initial lockdown announcement was made, with many now forced to take up residences at temporary accommodation facilities such as caravan parks.

Also locked out are people who planned to relocate to Queensland but now find themselves unable to do so because of the ban, along with several federal cabinet ministers and MPs.

The NSW and Queensland governments are in talks about moving the interstate border south, however no conclusive action has so far been taken.