Qld-NSW border closure: Cancer patient stuck in NSW lashes WAGS flight
A cancer patient stuck in NSW for weeks after attending her mother’s funeral has labelled Queensland’s border exemption for NRL WAGS as “morally wrong.”
A cancer patient stranded in NSW for weeks because of the Queensland government’s border lockdown has labelled the decision to allow a plane load of NRL WAGS into Brisbane as “morally wrong.”
Queenslander Sharen Gordon, who is battling thyroid cancer, was refused entry into her home state after driving through NSW to attend her mother’s funeral in Victoria in mid-July.
But when the 55-year-old arrived at the border to return to her acreage in Wolffdene a short drive across the border, she was turned away and told her border pass was invalid and she had to apply for an exemption.
Five weeks after Ms Gordon applied for an exemption, she still hadn’t received any outcome from authorities. Then, last week, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a two-week pause on hotel quarantine because the system was “overwhelmed.”
Since mid-July, Ms Gordon has been stranded in a motel on the NSW border town of Chinderah - no closer to knowing when she’ll be allowed home to attend medical appointments for her thyroid cancer and lesions on her pancreas.
“I have lesions on the pancreas and I do regular scans for my thyroid and I actually have a scan booked in September and I’m concerned about missing that,” she said.
“There’s no way of finding out the progress if your application. You are just sitting here waiting for something to happen. You’re just stranded.”
She said she was “distressed” to find out the Palaszczuk Government ignored its own health protocols and granted an exemption to allow a plane load of NRL players’ wives, girlfriends and kids into Queensland.
“I think it’s morally wrong for them to lock us out of our own state. How can they possibly keep Queenslanders out when they’re letting in these NRL players’ wives. There’s no compassion.”
The NRL confirmed the relaxation, saying a charter plane carrying 100 people from Sydney had arrived in Brisbane late on Monday.
Queensland Health has defended its position through a spokesperson on Monday night.
“We know that border restrictions are inconvenient and can cause disruption to people’s lives and livelihoods. We must balance these factors against the serious health risk to more than five million Queenslanders,” the spokesperson said.
“The aim of the strict border is to limit the number of people entering Queensland who could potentially import Covid-19 into our state.
“With the continued escalation of outbreaks in New South Wales and Victoria, there has been an influx of people relocating to Queensland. This, along with regular overseas arrivals, has placed extraordinary pressure on our hotel quarantine capacity, which is why the temporary pause has been implemented.
We know this is going to be tough, but it is necessary in ensuring we can continue to protect Queenslanders.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Qld-NSW border closure: Cancer patient stuck in NSW lashes WAGS flight
Covid cases surge in NSW as 2023 death toll revealed
