WA family stranded in Cairns beyond Christmas by border closure

A family visiting the Far North from WA is locked out of its own home after the WA government closed the borders and flights were cancelled - now they need to find accommodation.

THE worst fears of FNQ tourism leaders for people trapped by border closures have been realised for a family on holiday in the ­region.

On Tuesday a family from Western Australia who travelled to Cairns to spend Christmas with loved ones found they will be in FNQ longer than planned after the West Australian border slammed shut and their New Year's Day fight home was cancelled.

Russell Thomson and his wife Julie recently arrived in Cairns from their home near Bunbury in southwest WA, with grandchildren Celleste, 9, and Tyrone, 7.

Mr Thomson said they are concerned that their accommodation ends on January 1 and they need to find somewhere affordable for the following five weeks.

“We are here with our grandchildren to spend Christmas with family and friends just outside Cairns,” Mr Thomson said.

“We were planning to fly home to WA on January 1, but Virgin bumped us off until February 5 and our grandchildren will both miss one week of school.

Celleste Thomson (9) and her brother Tyrone Thomson (7) from near Bunbury, Western Australia have come to Cairns for Christmas but along with their grandparents are visiting for longer than anticipated after border closures and their returned flight was cancelled. Picture: Brian Cassey

“Our accommodations runs out on January 1st, and it’s hard to find something affordable for five weeks, some places want to charge up to $10,000.”

While he and his wife search for somewhere to stay in the new year, Mr Thomson said they have been doing some extra Christmas shopping in Cairns.

“We will have to bring home any additional presents on the plane so we will have to keep this in mind, assuming we can get back,” he said.

“While we were here and filling out our paperwork to get back to Perth, our flights were cancelled.

“I am not upset with Virgin Airlines, this is not their fault, they are a business and they are following the rules and unlike Jetstar with whom we had a battle to get here after they cancelled flights willy-nilly, Virgin offered us a refund straight up.

“It’s the WA Premier’s fault for locking the borders down.”

However, Mr Thomson said if you are going to be stranded somewhere, Cairns is a great place to be.

“We have been here plenty of times, we love Cairns,” he said.

“I have told my boss I’ll be working remotely for five weeks, so this time yes, it’s been interesting.”

The WA government said from Saturday February 5, 2022, the state will embark on its Safe Transition and ease interstate and international borders and details about travelling into WA will be updated when this comes into effect.

Originally published as WA family stranded in Cairns beyond Christmas by border closure