Lockdown restrictions have tightened across Australia as NSW faces a new wave of COVID-19 cases.
Despite tough mandatory hotel quarantine laws for incoming travellers, however, a slew of celebrities have been granted exemptions.
This month, Nicole Kidman, 53, was allowed to skip hotel quarantine a second time this year, both times bunkering down at her $6.5million Southern Highlands estate.
Getting a break? This month, Nicole Kidman, 53, (pictured) was allowed to skip hotel quarantine a second time this year, both times bunkering down at her $6.5million Southern Highlands estate, after a short trip to Ireland
Nicole is currently believed to be almost done with her 14 days of mandatory quarantine at her 45 hectare NSW property.
After a short trip to Ireland, Nicole is hopeful to reunite with husband Keith Urban, 53, and their two daughters for the festive season.
The actress was required overseas to shoot scenes for Robert Eggers Viking epic, The Northman, alongside Alexander Skarsgård and Ethan Hawke.
Lucky! In July, Nicole and husband Keith Urban (right) were seen walking hand in hand on the grounds of their estate just hours after flying into Australia from the United States
Nicole flew to Belfast to shoot her part after wrapping on-camera work for HBO’s new series, Nine Perfect Strangers, in the NSW coastal town of Byron Bay.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the A-list star was allowed to self-isolate at home again instead of staying at a state-approved hotel for 14 days, which is what the vast majority of international arrivals must do amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s believed Keith and their daughters Sunday, 12, and Faith, nine, are residing in Lavender Bay at the moment.
According to the NSW Government website, people returning from overseas are only exempt from staying at a quarantine hotel if there are ‘strong medical, health or compassionate grounds’.
No hotel quarantine: The A-list couple have been allowed to self-isolate at their mansion (pictured) this year instead of staying at a state-approved hotel for 14 days, which is what the vast majority of international arrivals must do amid the coronavirus pandemic
It is however unclear under which grounds Nicole was granted her exemption.
The couple’s return Down Under comes after Nicole was given the green light in June to film her new TV series, Nine Perfect Strangers, in Australia.
In July, Nicole and Keith were seen walking hand in hand on the grounds of their estate just hours after flying into Australia from the United States.
Earlier in the day, the Tennessee-based couple and their daughters had arrived via private jet in Sydney.
Family: The couple’s daughters Sunday, 12, and Faith, nine, are residing in Lavender Bay at the moment but were also able to quarantine at the Southern Highlands estate in July
Unlike ordinary travellers who must stay in hotels, Nicole and Keith were allowed to head straight from the airport to their country mansion.
They were granted special permission by the New South Wales Government to self-isolate at home instead of staying at a quarantine hotel for two weeks.
Despite being granted this exception, the pair still spent 14 days at home in accordance with Australia’s coronavirus rules.
After news of the exemption made headlines, some Australians angrily suggested that COVID-19 travel restrictions only seem to affect ordinary people, and not the rich and famous.
Skipped: Mark Wahlberg, 49, (pictured in Sydney) was also given special treatment in Australia after arriving in the country at the end of November
Mark Wahlberg, 49, was also given special treatment in Australia after arriving in the country at the end of November.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the actor was granted permission to self-isolate at a home, instead of the mandatory two-week hotel quarantine. The reason for his exception is unclear.
The Hollywood star was spotted quarantining at a private property in the trendy New South Wales coastal town of Byron Bay.
Mark spent 14 days at the private home, which reportedly cost him more than $400,000.
Nice digs! The Hollywood star was spotted quarantining at a private property in the trendy New South Wales coastal town of Byron Bay
Pricey: Mark spent 14 days at the private home, which reportedly cost him more than $400,000
After completing his mandatory two-week quarantine, Mark flew back to Sydney to film an ad for online betting agency Ladbrokes.
In July, it was revealed that The Masked Singer Australia judge Dannii Minogue was given an exemption to skip hotel quarantine by the Queensland government.
According to a report by 7NEWS, the 48-year-old singer and her 10-year-old son, Ethan, were granted the exemption on medical grounds.
Dannii and Ethan were reportedly quarantining at a private property on the Gold Coast after recently returning from the United States of America.
Reasons: In July, it was revealed that Dannii Minogue (pictured) was given an exemption to skip hotel quarantine by the Queensland government. The 48-year-old singer and her 10-year-old son, Ethan, were granted the exemption on medical grounds
The pair spent 14 days at the private home, instead of the usual 14-day stay at a hotel for returning travellers.
According to 7NEWS, Dannii and Ethan went straight to the property after leaving the airport, and remained there for the duration of their 14-day quarantine.
The Masked Singer judge also agreed to be tested for the virus multiple times during her quarantine.
The exemption was given after Dannii presented a letter from her doctor.
Medical reason: The exemption was given after Dannii presented a letter from her doctor. She cited a medical reason why she was able to dodge hotel quarantine – crippling claustrophobia
Defense: ‘I wouldn’t ask for a “celebrity” treatment or to have anything special granted to,’ she told The Daily Telegraph at the time
She cited a medical reason why she was able to dodge mandatory hotel quarantine – crippling claustrophobia.
‘I wouldn’t ask for a “celebrity” treatment or to have anything special granted to,’ she told The Daily Telegraph at the time.
‘I went by the book, I made sure my priority was keeping everyone safe – everyone.’
‘I took a lot of time to pull the whole thing together so that the Queensland Government were happy, the Queensland health officials were happy and that I’m happy. I added extra things into (the COVID-19 safe plan) so I know that I can sleep at night.’
Dannii sparked backlash after it was revealed that she was given the medical exemption, allowing her to avoid hotel quarantine along with the $2,800 bill.
Talk: In September, Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks (pictured) and his entourage were rumoured to be isolating in a lavish Gold Coast mansion after being granted an exemption from hotel quarantine
In September, Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks and his entourage were rumoured to be isolating in a lavish Gold Coast mansion after being granted an exemption from hotel quarantine.
While thousands of Australians are forced to stay in shoe box-sized hotel rooms guarded by the military, the A-lister and his cohort were reported to be relaxing on the 55-acre grounds at the Rivermead Estate in Queensland.
But both the estate owners and the Queensland government have denied the rumours, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisting Tom was staying in a Queensland Health-approved hotel.
Staying here? While thousands of Australians are forced to stay in shoe box-sized hotel rooms guarded by the military, the A-lister and his cohort were reported to be relaxing on the 55-acre grounds at the Rivermead Estate in Queensland. Pictured: A guest at the estate
Denied: But both the estate owners and the Queensland government have denied the rumours, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisting Tom was staying in a Queensland Health-approved hotel
‘My advice is that he is staying in a hotel, so I am told that he is not staying in a house,’ she said.
Tom, 64, arrived in the Sunshine State on September 8 by private jet for the filming of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic, in which he is playing the rock legend’s manager Colonel Tom Parker.
The two-time Oscar winner was reportedly given a special exemption to isolate in non-official premises during his stay in Australia.
While the cast and crew were thought to be staying at the Oracle resort in Broadbeach, The Courier-Mail reported the party were being put up at the mega-mansion in Guanaba, 25 minutes north of the Gold Coast.
Bad luck: Tom and his wife Rita Wilson, 63, (right) contracted COVID-19 while staying on Australia’s Gold Coast in March
Rivermead denied Hanks was staying at the estate, and told Daily Mail Australia they had no guests connected with the movie industry.
The estate, which charges guests up to $6,000 a night, is a three-storey lodge that sleeps 19 and features a lake, tennis court, polo field, day spa and pool.
The star and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for COVID-19 during another visit to Australia in March.
British billionaire Lord Alan Sugar also avoided mandatory hotel quarantine in September, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The new host of Celebrity Apprentice Australia, 73, and his wife, Ann Simons, were granted an exception, a NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed.
Skip: British billionaire Lord Alan Sugar also avoided mandatory hotel quarantine in September. The new host of Celebrity Apprentice Australia, 73, and his wife, Ann Simons, were granted an exception, a NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed. Both pictured
“The couple submitted a proposal to acquire appropriate, independent locations to be nominated as ‘Quarantine Facilities’ as allowed under the Public Health Order,” the spokesperson told the paper.
A Nine spokesman added: “Bringing Lord Alan Sugar to Australia has been months in the making, and all the regular processes were followed, with no special treatment being given.”
It comes amid fears the outbreak in Sydney’s northern beaches could be far more dangerous than it appears due to the way cases and testing numbers are being reported by New South Wales Health.
NSW recorded 15 more Covid cases on Monday – all of which are linked to the northern beaches cluster which now stands at 83.
Here’s why: “The couple submitted a proposal to acquire appropriate, independent locations to be nominated as ‘Quarantine Facilities’ as allowed under the Public Health Order,” the spokesperson told the paper