Boy, 8, separated from mum by Queensland’s harsh border restrictions

A Gold Coast mother cannot stop crying after her eight-year-old boy was barred from returning home to Queensland without going into hotel quarantine.

A Gold Coast mother cannot stop crying after her eight-year-old son was barred from returning home to Queensland without going into hotel quarantine.

Simone Brennan been unable to see her eight-year-old boy, Luchas, for 10 weeks due to Queensland’s harsh border restrictions.

Her situation was brought to light by 2GB’s Ben Fordham just a week after three-year-old Memphis Francis, was reunited with his parents.

Simone Brennan has not seen her son in 10 weeks. Picture: supplied

Simone has had her applications for him to quarantine at home knocked back by the Queensland government and said she cannot afford to go into hotel quarantine with her son.

“I applied for an exemption and got a straight out no. I got a reply on the September 2nd. ’m so angry and we live in Australia and they’re playing politics with young children,” she told news.com.au

“He was fine initially but now he is saying ‘I hate this’, ‘what are you doing mum?’ I just keep telling him I’m sorry and my hands are tied.

“My mental health is really suffering. I’m pretty tough normally, but now I just cry at home. I come to work and I’m a wreck. He’s my only baby, he’s an IVF baby, and he is the apple of my eye.”

There has been heartfelt reunions at the NSW/QLD border. Picture: Richard Gosling

Lucius, 8, has been with his father and his grandparents since June 23. He was due to return home to his mum on the Gold Coast on Sunday July 10.

This is the second family in as many weeks to be kept apart by Queensland’s border restrictions.

Just last week, the heartbreaking separation between Memphis Francis, 3, captured the country.

The child had been with his grandparents in NSW for weeks before he was finally granted an exemption to return home.

At the time, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt labelled Queensland’s strict border policy a “profound moral failure”.

Originally published as Boy, 8, separated from mum by Queensland’s harsh border restrictions