Ukrainians to be released as Premier invokes her family history

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended the quarantining of a Ukrainian refugee family, while using her Polish heritage to call out the Federal Government.

A Ukrainian family forced into quarantine at Wellcamp near Toowoomba after arriving in Queensland were expected to be released overnight, as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk defended government bureaucrats’ handling of the situation.

The Bilyk family – Iryna, 63, Anastasiia, 32, and Milana, 7 – were sent to state-run quarantine on Monday after arriving in Queensland, despite requests to isolate with a family member at Narangba north of Brisbane.

Health authorities agreed to release the family on Wednesday night following inquiries from The Courier-Mail.

They will be driven to the home of Iryna’s daughter, who is also named Iryna, today.

Ms Bilyk said her mother, sister-in-law and niece were ecstatic to receive notification they would leave Toowoomba and home quarantine.

“They were so happy they’ve already started packing,” she said.

“I haven’t seen Mum for over two years and they’re so excited their long journey is almost over.”

The three were sheltering in a village outside Kyiv when the Russian invasion started last month before making the perilous journeyacross the border to Moldova and then Romania – on to Australia.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said Ukrainian arrivals into Queensland could use hospital and health services free of charge.

Iryna, Milana and Anastasiia Bilyk at Wellcamp

“Likewise, no quarantine fees are being charged for any Ukrainian arrivals quarantining at Wellcamp,” she said.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates in Parliament probed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk over the state’s response to the family’s situation, asking: “Why does the Premier show no compassion until it looks bad for the government … in the media?”

Ms Palaszczuk said the matter had been resolved.

“They have since applied for an exemption, I understand that exemption came through last night (Wednesday) … The family is speaking with the department,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said her grandparents, who had a home in an area of Poland which is now part of Ukraine, fled war-torn Europe and arrived at the Wacol migrant camp in Queensland.

She used her family’s background to call for the Federal Government to offer more support to people fleeing Ukraine, and said Wellcamp could be used to temporarily house them.

“We have a facility that has beds available now,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I say to (Defence Minister) Peter Dutton and (Prime Minister) Scott Morrison, on humanitarian grounds, just as they supported the Afghan refugees, let us help the Ukrainian refugees.”

The Federal Government has provided more than 4000 temporary visas to Ukrainians since the war began and is considering a scheme to allow more in.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Question Time yesterday. Picture: Sarah Marshall/NCA NewsWire