Yvette D’Ath guarantees exemptions, home quarantine for children stranded by closed borders

Children locked out of Queensland by closed borders will be guaranteed exemptions and not have to complete hotel quarantine, the state’s health minister has promised.

Closed borders and hotel quarantine orders will no longer keep kids separated from their parents, the state’s Health Minister has promised. 

Yvette D’Ath on Saturday guaranteed any young child stuck in a different state to their parents will be granted an exemption to re-enter the state, as long as the entire household agreed to complete 14 days of at home quarantine.
“All Queensland children wanting to come back into Queensland will be allowed to quarantine at home and will have to quarantine with the whole household, I’m giving that guarantee right now,” Ms D’Ath said.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Health Minister made the guarantee following mounting pressure on the state government to bring Queensland kids back home.

Previously, some kids wanting to come home to be reunited with their parents were required to complete 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine.

Ms D’Ath yesterday softened this approach.

“If people have not put in a formal application – if they have simply rang the phone line (and) have not put in an application- I would encourage you to do so immediately so that we can make sure that those people, those kids, can get home to their parents and make sure that they’re safe and home quarantining.” 

Dominique Facer is reunited with her son Memphis. Picture: Lachie Millard

Queensland Health yesterday said parents who had previously been knocked back from having their kids brought home to Queensland, or had their child’s home quarantine request denied, could reopen the exemption request and wait for approval of 14 day home quarantine -which must be completed by the whole household.

Ms D’Ath’s guarantee comes after The Courier-Mail rallied for three-year-old Memphis Francis to be reunited with his Queensland parents, after border closures kept them separated for eight weeks.