Anger as State Government pauses relocations to Queensland

A state government decision to pause relocations into Queensland for at least two weeks has sparked anger and confusion, with some people saying their lives had been turned upside down because of a lack of warning.

The state government’s decision to place a two-week pause on relocations into Queensland has sparked anger and confusion.

People who had already organised imminent relocation from interstate, believing they had done “everything right”, say their lives have been thrown into disarray, with leases relinquished and furniture and pets already on the move.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the change was necessary as the hotel quarantine system – and police and health staff – was struggling to cope with an influx of people moving from hotspot areas, but some of those affected were left outraged.

Courier-Mail reader Grant said he was “lost for words” and that his family have been “screwed”.

“We applied for a border permit 2 weeks ago and were approved,” he wrote in a comment at couriermail.com.au.

“Kids are now out of school here in Melbourne and due to start in Qld on Monday. Our lease ends on Friday, our flights are booked for tomorrow, removalists have uplifted our household goods, our pets are currently on the road going into a kennel/cattery on arrival whilst we were to do our 14 days.

“Where to from here?

“Thanks Anna from a homeless family in Melbourne because you did not keep track of ham many people you had approved.

“We did everything right and just as you told us. Disgraceful.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland was being loved to death. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Ms Palaszczuk made the announcement at Wednesday’s 10am Covid-19 press conference, with the rule to affect people travelling to the state from New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. The pause kicked off at midday, meaning anyone who wasn’t already on a flight into the state would have to reapply for a border pass and wait to be allocated a time to relocate.

People with medical or bereavement exemptions are not included and home quarantine has been ruled out for the moment.

“We are really concerned about the pressure that the hotel quarantine system is putting on our resources,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“We do not have any room at the moment. Queensland is being loved to death.”

Queensland recorded no new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday. New South Wales recorded 919 new cases.

Another reader, Steven, said his brother-in-law was due to fly back into Queensland on Saturday and had already returned his unit key. 

“He was gunna cop a couple of days in a hotel before flying home. So now he has no place, no gear, no place to live and no definitive path home. Ridiculous. And he is potentially looking at four weeks of hotel/quarantine fees,” he wrote. 

Other readers have called on the state to reconsider home quarantine.

“Anyone could see the system was at breaking point weeks ago and only getting worse. To turn around families who, in good faith, have packed up their lives interstate to return to Queensland defies belief,” said Gary.

“Perhaps a better alternative would have been to allow home quarantine where the situation warranted it.”.

The Westin Hotel in Brisbane which has been used for quarantine, including for Annastacia Palaszczuk on her return from the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Brad Fleet

As of Tuesday, there were more than 5000 people in 22 quarantine hotels – 3253 from interstate and 1857 from overseas.

The Premier said the pause was put to her by police and Queensland Health because resources were so stretched.

A Courier-Mail poll with more than 1100 votes showed that 70 per cent agreed with the quarantine pause.

Originally published as Anger as State Government pauses relocations to Queensland