Foreign diplomats' families allowed to wander into the country with no hotel quarantine test positive for coronavirus – and they're given FAR more rights than average Australians who have to fork out $3,000

Five family members of two Indonesian diplomats staying in Sydney have tested positive to coronavirus after being allowed to avoid hotel quarantine.

The relatives arrived in New South Wales on September 30 and instead of having to pay for a two-week stay in a hotel, they were taken to another accommodation to isolate that was not managed by NSW Health or NSW Police.

The family members had all returned negative tests before leaving Jakarta to Australia.

Staff from NSW Health have since been called in to investigate if the infected family members had come into contact with anyone else.

Five family members of two Indonesian diplomats staying in Sydney have tested positive to coronavirus after being allowed to avoid hotel quarantine (passengers arrive at Sydney Airport after landing from New Zealand)

A NSW Health spokesperson told the Sydney Morning Herald upon returning the positive result the family had been moved to a hotel managed by the health department and the family posed 'no risk' to the broader community.

But it has raised questions about the influx of diplomats arriving in Australia who are allowed to quarantine in other forms of accommodation instead of the mandatory hotels.

This is also common in other countries including New Zealand.  

A spokesman for Sydney's Indonesian consulate said they were working closely with NSW Health to ensure the infections were under control.

'It is unfortunate that despite implementing the protocol, several members of the two families in Sydney have contracted COVID-19,' they said. 

Staff from NSW Health have since been called in to investigate if the infected family members had come into contact with anyone else (pictured passengers from Melbourne arrive at Sydney Airport in August)

Diplomats arriving in Australia are allowed to quarantine in other forms of accommodation instead of the mandatory hotels (pictured passengers land in Australia off a flight from Auckland)

Anyone returning from overseas has to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks with fees of up to $3,000 (pictured: couple quarantining in Brisbane Novotel)

There is no suggestion the family did not self-isolate as directed, but do not have to be monitored by police or NSW Health officials.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said health officials were supportive of the arrangements for diplomats in Australia.

'I have absolutely no complaints about the Indonesian consulate and the NSW government is quite capable of making any system safe,' he said.

The current rules in the state mean anybody returning from overseas must fork out $3,000 to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks.

They are unable to leave their rooms or come into contact with anyone else during the stay.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced in August diplomats would no longer be able to dodge hotel quarantine in her state.

It came after a contractor from Afghanistan arrived in the state and tested positive to COVID-19 after not having to undergo the mandatory quarantine.  

One man is seen lifting weights during the two week stay in a hotel in Brisbane in March

A returned traveller is seen sitting on the balcony of the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney in April during mandatory quarantine