Coronavirus Australia: NSW-Queensland border closure leaves Aussie man stranded and homeless
This man has been sleeping under a tree in a park in one of Australia’s major cities, all because he’s been stranded by a COVID-19 rule.
An Aussie father has been rendered homeless after the sudden closure of the borders between NSW and Queensland, following concerns over rising coronavirus numbers in NSW.
Gold Coast man Clinton Wass got caught on the wrong side of the border when it closed last week.
After being turned away from a Coolangatta checkpoint on Sunday, he’s had no choice but to sleep in a park at Tweed Heads for the past seven nights.
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Under the current health directive, Queenslanders who are returning from NSW are no longer allowed to cross the border via road.
Instead they must catch a plane and then quarantine in a hotel at their own expense.
A NSW charity kindly donated a pillow and a doona to Mr Wass, and he has set up base under a tree for extra shelter.
Mr Wass told 9 News: “I’d like any of those politicians to give it (sleeping in a park) a go.”
For Mr Wass, who is only an hour’s drive away from his home on the other side of the border, reckons catching a plane is an odd regulation.
He also only has $10 to his name so is unable to afford the flight.
“Basic human rights is the right to have shelter and food and clothing, I‘ve got all that but it’s just over there, about a hundred kilometres, under an hour away and they won’t let me,” he said.
“The only answer I get from any government department is we‘re very sorry, there’s no box I fit in, so see you later – we can’t do anything else,” he said.
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