Covid Qld: Families tell of their frustration as they remain separated and stranded by the border closure

Queensland families are still suffering at the hands of the state’s border closure, with some separated for more than three months, while others fear they will soon be homeless.

Krystal and Ivan Aul bought a home in Logan, ready to shift north and on to some land, but after they settled the house, the borders shut and they were left homeless.

The family, now living in northern Sydney after applying for multiple exemptions without success, said they did not receive the letter to be a part of the trial.

The news they could potentially move north and home quarantine on their block of land was an exciting prospect.

“Now we are homeless, our stuff is in storage in Queensland and we have no idea when we will get home, mentally I don’t think my children will handle hotel quarantine,” Ms Aul said. “(The trial) gives me so much hope, so many of us are at our wits’ end and don’t have much energy to keep going.”

Queensland family Ivan Aul with his wife, Krystal and their children Neriyah, 5, and Lula, 2, are unable to return home from Sydney due to lockdown. Picture / Monique Harmer

Meanwhile, Brisbane man Adrian Gray has been separated from pregnant partner Katrina Haslam for three months.

Ms Haslam, who is now 28 weeks pregnant with the couple’s first child, is stuck in Sydney, where she was for work.

Mr Gray said Ms Haslam had no family in NSW, was a New Zealand citizen and could no longer work as a jockey.

“We have heard nothing from Queensland Health – it’s illogical,” he said. “Katrina was asked to be out of the room she is currently in by the 17th, so I gave notice at my job and will fly down to Sydney next week.

“We both didn’t want that, but we have no choice, it’s too much uncertainty to just wait with no correspondence.”

Mr Gray said the pair applied for a border pass before the Premier closed hotel quarantine, but were rejected.

The couple said they had not received any communication about a trial of home quarantine from authorities.