Bordering on heartless: Premier under fire over exemptions

Queensland’s Chief Medical Officer has copped the blame for the state’s harsh border policies, the Premier passing the buck to her seven times.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has come under fire for using the chief medico as a “human shield” over compassionate border exemptions, while repeatedly claiming she makes no apology for her tough stance on borders.

In the 48 hours since the Government’s refusal to allow Canberra woman Sarah Caisip attend the funeral of her father drew a national outcry, the Premier passed the buck to Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young at least seven times – saying it was Dr Young who made the decision.

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It has left lingering questions over who is in charge, with Coalition figures saying the state’s compassionate exemption process was “cold hearted, nasty and cruel” as they ramp up the pressure on the strict border restrictions.

There have been just 229 exemptions granted for specialist workers, health care and compassionate grounds, compared to 31,000 for freight movements.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has come under fire for buck passing on issues around compassionate exemptions on border restrictions. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Marshall

Even as Queensland defends keeping Canberra a declared hotspot, despite being free from community transmission for 146 days, the Northern Territory Labor Government revealed it would be reopening its borders to greater Sydney if it kept its “sustained downward trend” on case numbers to October 9.

Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland had 40 people who worked specifically on border exemption applications, as she defended the state’s border stance.

She revealed she had asked her director-general to look at putting more staff into the unit which examines the exemption requests, while revealing the personal toll she has worn in the pandemic.

“I’m human just like everyone else. These issues hurt me deeply,” she said.

“They hurt me deeply because during this pandemic I have lost loved ones as well. I know exactly what people are going through.”

The reference to her personal experiences was the closest she has come to publicly talking about the loss of her grandmother, Beryl Erskine, in June.

The pair shared a special bond, with Ms Palaszczuk having previously told The Courier-Mail her nana was her “best friend”.

On at least four occasions on Thursday and a further three times yesterday, Ms Palaszczuk said it was Dr Young responsible for making the decisions, not her.

“It’s her decision. Under the Act, it’s her decision. You have got to take the clinical advice here,” she said.

Queensland LNP Senator Matt Canavan said it looked “gutless, as well as heartless” to put the blame on a public servant.

“The way the Premier is using public servants as a human shield is cowardly, the buck should stop with the Premier,” he said.

Queensland LNP Senator Matt Canavan says it is “gutless, as well as heartless” to blame a public servant for border decisions. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the decision to deny Ms Caisip attendance at the funeral appeared “cold-hearted and nasty”.

“It is completely and utterly the wrong thing to do, at least show some humanity in the circumstances and make a genuine assessment of the actual risk,” he said.

He said the Premier should have been able to speak to the Chief Health Officer, and work through a “sensible and compassionate” solution.

Minister Stuart Robert said Queenslanders had “every right” to question the inconsistencies in the state’s border restrictions.

“Right now, the (Queensland Government) is letting the virus win through heartache and cruel and inconsistent rules,” he said.

Ms Palaszczuk said she had been “absolutely consistent” on the borders, and was following advice from the CHO to have 28 days without community transmission before opening up.

“If as a nation can focus on getting Victoria and NSW under control, then you can set a date for the whole country to open up,” she said.

The State Government has a specialist unit of eight professionals, including nurses and doctors, responsible for supporting people with specific healthcare needs as they enter Queensland from COVID-19 hot spots.

Ms Palaszczuk said the unit had already fielded more than 400 calls since it began on September 4.

“In relation to exemptions, I think there seems to be … people don’t think that these exemptions are happening,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“But in fact, there were 31,000 freight exemptions that have been granted.

“I understand 170,000 border zone exemptions – so they’re the people that are working … going crossing over between those border communities.

“And then I also understand there have been 229 exemptions for specialist workers, health care and compassionate grounds.”

The government was unable to provide data on how many exemptions on compassionate grounds had been applied for.

It is understood the definition of a national COVID-19 hotspot continues to be discussed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, with progress continuing to be made.

Originally published as Bordering on heartless: Premier under fire over exemptions