Nearly 16,000 Australians who chose to ignore the government’s warnings not to travel overseas as COVID-19 spread could be forced to pay for their own quarantine costs.

In the two weeks after Prime Minister Scott Morrison implored people not to leave the country in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 16,000 Australians flew out of the country.

The Australian reports they flew overseas March 19 and 30 even though the Prime Minister gave a very clear instruction to “not travel abroad” on March 18.

This included 3800 Australians who hopped on planes for foreign destinations from March 25-30 after an official ban on all overseas travel came into force on March 24.

Angry state leaders now want the people who ignored the official advice to pay for their own quarantine hotel rooms.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan led the call, hitting out at “irresponsible” citizens who flew out to Bali, Thailand and the UK in the past fortnight.

On their return to Australia, these people must now stay in empty five-star hotels for two weeks of quarantine – at the cost of state governments.

State treasurers have to split the substantial costs of the quarantine accommodation, with many passengers being put up in empty five-star ­hotels in Australia’s capital cities.

Each state will pay for their own residents’ quarantine, easing pressure on NSW which is housing most of the international arrivals in Sydney.

Former immigration minister Amanda Vanstone said it would be reasonable for the government to charge a levy for returned holiday-makers’ quarantine.

“I am amazed that people with the knowledge in hand with what was happening in China and Italy would nonetheless choose to ignore advice and travel,” Ms Vanstone said.

 A resounding B