Daily our governments are spending many thousands of dollars in the response to the pandemic - with the ultimate aim of keeping each of us as safe as possible.

For much of the time since the Tasmanian government closed our borders, those costs have included the mandatory quarantine in hotels for visitors or people returning to the state.

Last week Premier Peter Gutwein revealed this had cost about $8 million, which was being split 50-50 with the Commonwealth as part of a national agreement.

This isn't a small sum, in anybody's language.

With the potential delay to reopening borders, given the resurgence of COVID-19 in other states, there will be potentially an ongoing need for quarantine in this state.

Which means the costs for this quarantine are likely to continue.

This reality has brought the suggestion that the government should consider charging for the quarantine.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry boss Michael Bailey says he thinks the money could potentially be better spent.

He thinks that supporting businesses which are struggling is one of the ways those funds could be better applied.

Mr Bailey is particularly interested in seeing people who don't need to travel covering their quarantine costs.

At this stage, the Tasmanian government says it isn't considering passing on the cost of quarantine.

But at some stage they may need to find a way to offset the cost - particularly for people who make the choice to travel when it isn't essential, and just accept that they will be put into quarantine on their return.

The number of people going into quarantine has obviously been enough to convince some states to pass on the costs.

If that happens here, people who travel medical treatment and other essential reasons such as caring for family members interstate, must be exempt and must know that they won't be hit with a bill on return.

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