Tony Abbott slams ‘bureaucratic bloody-mindedness’ of Qld border restrictions

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has slammed Queensland’s border restrictions as “bureaucratic bloody-mindedness”

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has joined the chorus of Liberal leaders attacking Queensland’s strict border closures, labelling Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s restrictions as “bureaucratic bloody-mindedness”.

Speaking to The Australian, Mr Abbott described Queensland’s refusal to allow people from NSW to cross the border without quarantining as “heartless.”

Mr Abbott, who is serving 14 days quarantine in Sydney after returning from London, said Queensland had gone too far.

“We are now seeing the heartless and mind-boggling bureaucratic bloody-mindedness that goes with these border closures,” he told The Australian.

“That New South Welshmen coming from a state with almost no cases and going into a state with almost no cases should be seen as somehow toxic to Queenslanders is simply crazy.”

It comes after numerous high profile cases have emerged in recent days of people being denied exemptions to attend funerals or farewell dying loved ones, while Hollywood star Tom Hanks was allowed to fly into the Gold Coast, which Ms Palaszczuk has continued to defend.

“I do not make those decisions. Those are decisions for our Chief Health Officer (Dr Jeannette Young),” she said last week.

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Sarah Caisip was not able to attend her father’s Brisbane funeral after a request to leave hotel quarantine was denied. She was given 10 minutes alone to view his body after the service. Picture: Annette Dew

Ms Palaszczuk responded to a personal phone call from Prime Minister Scott Morrison pleading with her to allow Sarah Caisip permission to leave hotel quarantine to attend her father’s funeral, in a move she slammed as “bullying”.

It comes as LNP Senator Matt Canavan slammed Ms Palaszczuk on Sky News on Monday morning, labelling her “a Queensland Donald Trump”.

Speaking this morning, Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles slammed the constant Liberal-led attacks on the Queensland government.

“The PM made a mistake when he weighed in,” Mr Miles said.

“He was left with egg on his face when facts of those cases came out.”

The latest attack on Queensland’s borders comes a day after Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton lashed out, labelling the restrictions as “politically motivated”.