Rainbow Sea Resort, Fraser Island Beach Houses owner slams Qld border closure
A popular tourism identity has lashed the Premier for allowing NRL families into the state while Queenslanders like her son remain shut-out.
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A Queensland tourism identity, whose teenage son remains stranded in NSW, has condemned the double standards of the Queensland Government after it was revealed NRL officials and family members were given special access into the state.
Fiona Worthington, owner of Rainbow Sea Resort and Fraser Island Beach Houses, was looking forward to welcoming 19-year-old son James, a second-year teaching student at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, home during his two week uni break.
However, with the border between Queensland and New South Wales closed, Mrs Worthington said she would be lucky to see her son by Christmas.
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She took to social media on Tuesday saying she was “disappointed” in the Queensland Government for “allowing footy families to come into (Queensland) on some bulls--- pass system when one of my own who studies across the border can’t come back to his home state”.
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Mrs Worthington said she understood why NRL officials were given special access into Queensland (sporting was a big deal to people in lockdown and James was a “sporting nut” himself) but to extend the privilege to family members while other Queensland families was unfair.
“So many families are currently disconnected and giving NRL families this privilege is disgraceful,” she said.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk allowed a charter flight of 100 NRL officials, family members and partners into Queensland from Sydney on Monday night, while tight restrictions remained in place for anyone else wanting to cross north.
The “NRL bubble” meant those who arrived into the state were required to enter hotel quarantine, but in a hub separate from the state’s hotel quarantine system.
Meanwhile, James is coping with the separation from his family and home state by coaching sport at a local Bathurst school and keeping in regular touch,” Mrs Worthington said
“We FaceTime a lot and our extended family keep in touch with him regularly.
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“Care packages are also sent to give a little pick me up.”
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