Queensland soldiers sent to Afghanistan to rescue refugees are being held up in Dubai, unable to return home because the Palaszczuk government has not approved a special exemption to quarantine in the hotel system.

This is despite providing a special exemption to Indian cricketers and the wives and girlfriends of NRL footy players, who were provided with the opportunity to quarantine in Brisbane, despite a two week ban on new arrivals.

A government source said an application had been sent to Queensland Health to bring the soldiers home, under the same model used by the National Rugby League to bring 100 wives and girlfriends to Queensland.

“It’s the same model .. we’d find the hotels but we’ve heard nothing from Queensland Health,’’ the source said.