Qld Diggers stranded abroad while sports stars, WAGs waved through

Queensland soldiers sent to Afghanistan to rescue refugees are being held up in Dubai, with a special hotel quarantine exemption like that organised for sporting teams yet to be approved. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Queensland soldiers sent to Afghanistan to rescue refugees have been held up in Dubai because the Palaszczuk government has not yet approved a special hotel quarantine exemption for them.

Despite the government providing exemptions to cricketers and the wives and girlfriends of NRL players, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath last night confirmed a deal for the return of 40 diggers involved in the Kabul rescue-mission was still being negotiated.

But she said “any request” from Defence for their own quarantine bubble would be granted – and that the government was working “on this matter with steps being taken to ensure this can happen”.

Commander Joint Task Force 633 Air Commodore David Paddison CSC, welcomes soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, as they disembark a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft at Australia's main operating base in the Middle East region, after their flight from Kabul, Afghanistan.

A senior federal government source said an application had been sent to Queensland Health to bring the soldiers home under the same model used by the ­National Rugby League to bring 100 family members and staff to Queensland, but that “we’ve heard nothing from Queensland Health”.

“It’s pretty ordinary. Hopefully they can approve it sooner rather than later,” the source said.

It is understood Defence made a series of hotel bookings on Tuesday in expectation of its request being granted.

A mother of a digger involved in the rescue mission said she was “dumbfounded and disgusted’’ when informed by her son in Dubai that the ADF had been unable to secure hotel quarantine for the Queensland deployment.

“Apparently, according to Queensland Health, there is not enough room,” the mother said.

“They have put their lives on the line for this rescue. The Queensland government has given priority to the Indian women’s team, the NRL players and their wives and girlfriends, over these heroes.

“It disgusts me that they have been kicked to the kerb.’’

The mother said that the ADF personnel were being Covid-tested every three days and sleeping on the floor of a local gym.

“They are not worried about Covid-19 … they are ­worried about hepatitis and cholera and they all have young families,’’ she said.

“Why are our heroes not being given priority over sports teams? If they are sent to ­Darwin they will have to do two weeks there and another two weeks (quarantine) in Brisbane. It’s ridiculous.’’

The Premier on Friday apologised for allowing the NRL plane into Queensland after days of criticism.

The Defence mum said: “The politicians are supposed to be working for all us ... why were our heroes not given priority over sports teams?”