Qld border: Gold Coast teen facing homelessness after being locked out of state

A fully vaccinated Gold Coast teen studying in NSW is facing homelessness because his on-campus accommodation is set to close and he is locked out of his home state. DETAILS >>>

Ben Reilly (right) with his dad. Picture: supplied

A FULLY vaccinated Gold Coast teen studying in NSW is facing homelessness because his on-campus accommodation is to close on November 2 and he is locked out of his home state.

Ashmore’s Ben Reilly, 18, who attends the University of New England, was told his only option to get back home was to travel to Sydney and fly to Brisbane for two weeks hotel quarantine. 

It’s understood many students from Queensland attending NSW universities are in the same situation. 

Mum Jess Reilly said her entire family, which is fully vaccinated, were even prepared to leave their home so Ben could drive over the border and quarantine there. 

“I’m concerned about his mental health being stuck there,” she said.

“We don't have any family or friends there if he’s stuck there for Christmas. 

“As a mother, I want my son to be able to come home.”  

Ben Reilly (right) with his dad. Picture: supplied

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said it had received an application by Ben to be exempt from quarantining in government-arranged accommodation. 

“The Queensland Health exemptions team works incredibly hard, under very difficult circumstances, seven days a week,” she said. 

“We understand the impact of our decisions, and we are working within the boundaries of legislation, health directions and protocols to ensure public health remains a top priority. 

“We are doing everything possible to process exemption requests as quickly as we can.”  

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said we need to be doing all we can to get Queenslanders home safely.

“I’m not ok with a situation where a young Queenslander is rendered homeless and can’t get back into Queensland," he said.

“Queenslanders expect better than this.”

Ben Reilly with his mum Jess Reilly. Picture: supplied

Can’t get home’: Abandoned Coast woman’s blunt message for premier - September 30 

A GOLD Coast woman is stuck in Melbourne after caring for her sick father and a Tweed couple were told to travel to Sydney so they can move to Brisbane. 

These are some of the heartbreaking cases that have emerged as Queensland’s hotel quarantine debacle continues. Some people say they are waiting more than three weeks for a response to their border pass application.

Reedy Creek resident Sally Dalgleish rushed to Melbourne in April to take care of her sick, elderly father.

After he passed away on May 31, she began making preparations for her widowed 88-year-old mother to relocate with her to the Gold Coast.

Ms Dalgleish said she applied for a new border pass on September 6 for herself and her mum to get back into Queensland and complete hotel quarantine.

“We were told it would be a three-to-10-day (wait) for a response and then we were told a fortnight later they can’t meet those deadlines and the application would be dealt with in due course.”

Sally Dalgleish (right) and her mum are stuck in Melbourne. Picture: supplied

More than three weeks on, Ms Dalgleish is still waiting for a response, despite both women being vaccinated.

Border passes are handled by Queensland police.

She felt Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was “not looking after Queenslanders at all”.

“She’s stopping me from coming home and she’s stopping me from bringing my recently widowed 88-year-old mother with me.

“We’re just playing a waiting game and can’t get home.”

Double vaccinated Tweed couple John and Rhonda Craven said Queensland Health told them they had to travel to Sydney to get into Brisbane, because border restrictions did not allow them to cross the border and drive an hour north.

Mr Craven said in order for them to relocate to their recently purchased Brisbane home, Queensland Health said they must fly into Brisbane and upon arrival isolate in government hotel quarantine for two weeks.

To fly into Brisbane means they must travel to the Ballina Airport from Tweed Heads.

There are no direct flights from the Ballina Airport to Brisbane and the flights stopover in Sydney.

Alternatively, they must drive to Sydney and fly directly to Brisbane.

John and Rhonda Craven, from Tweed Heads. Picture: supplied

Mr Craven urged the Premier and Queensland Health to “show some compassion and take into account individual situations”.

“The whole thing seems ridiculous and lacking compassion and commonsense.”

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said it had received the Cravens’ application for exemption.

“The Queensland Health exemption unit is in conversations with one of the applicants requesting further documentation to complete the application,” she said.

“We know border restrictions are inconvenient and can cause disruption to people’s lives and livelihoods.

“We must balance these factors against the serious health risk to more than five million Queenslanders.”

A spokesman for the premier said restrictions were in place because the effects of a Delta outbreak on places like the Gold Coast would be devastating.

“The premier recognises the impact that border restrictions are having on families and has made it clear that people should be contacted as quickly as possible,” he said.

“The exemptions unit is working incredibly hard to process applications.”

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