Stuck Qld MP calls out ‘double standards’ as anger over NRL decision explodes
All sides of politics have slammed the Premier for allowing a plane-load of NRL players’ families into Queensland, while many other Queenslanders remain stuck interstate.
QLD Politics
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A “shambolic” decision to allow NRL players’ families and officials to undertake hotel quarantine in Queensland has been widely condemned amid calls for the state government to make room for desperate Queenslanders wanting to return home.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk faced a fiery parliamentary sitting as she was condemned by all sides of politics and called on to explain the decision as Opposition Leader David Crisafulli declared: “If there’s room for sporting families, there’s room for Queensland families.”
Hundreds of Queenslanders slammed the decision online, claiming it was “disgusting”, “hypocritical” and “unbelievable”.
Greens MP Michael Berkman said he couldn’t see how anyone could have faith in a system that banned residents from returning home while “waving through NRL players and families”.
Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter slammed it as a “gross misjudgment” while One Nation MP Stephen Andrew claimed there appeared to be different rules for some.
Independent MP Sandy Bolton said her community could not get their head around it.
The state government last week put a pause on people entering Queensland from interstate hot spots, including people returning home, for 14 days because the hotel quarantine system was stretched.
People can still apply for exemptions including on medical and compassionate grounds.
Ms Palaszczuk said NRL officials and families were being handled outside the arrivals cap and that she wanted to see as many Queenslanders return home as possible.
“That is why the government is already looking at additional hotels that we will be able to bring online to deal specifically with domestic travel,” she said.
The Courier-Mail can reveal former Opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek is stuck in Melbourne after attending his father’s funeral last week.
The Surfers Paradise MP will miss September’s second parliamentary sitting week.
“The Premier’s double standards are having real impacts on real people during the most difficult times in their lives, and from what I’ve seen I’m not sure the Premier understands that,” he said.
The border closure has also added to the heartbreak of Tanya from Victoria, who was due to move to the Sunshine Coast on Friday with her partner and child.
Instead the family were blocked from entering the state, forcing them to stay with a friend where Tanya suffered a tragic miscarriage on Saturday.
“I just can’t fathom the situation we’re facing … it’s uncomfortable to go through this on your friend’s lounge room floor,” she said.
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