Coronavirus: Scott Morrison demands explanation from Annastacia Palaszczuk on twin tragedy

The Qld Premier must explain how a woman lost an unborn twin after being unable to cross the NSW border, Scott Morrison says.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a bush summit in Cooma, NSW. Picture by Sean Davey.

Scott Morrison has demanded an explanation from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about how a woman lost one of her unborn twins after being unable to cross the border from Northern NSW to obtain urgent medical treatment.

The Prime Minister said the incident, in which the Ballina family had to wait more than 12 hours to get a flight to Sydney, was “terribly distressing” and “heartbreaking”.

“There needs to be an explanation as to how these ... hard border arrangements, can lead to people not getting access to this care as it seems to be the case here,” he said. “I don’t know all the facts here and it’s important that they’re all known.

Premier Annastasia Palaszczuk visiting the Qld/NSW border crossing at Griffith Street Coolangatta earlier this month. Picture: Adam Head

“I understand why there can be recommendations about having border restrictions under a COVID pandemic. But, at the same time, they would need to be an extraordinary explanation in relation to how someone wouldn’t be able to get medical treatment in these circumstances.

“So, there does need to be an explanation here.”

Mr Morrison said that, where border restrictions were implemented, they needed to be managed with “compassion, with common sense and understanding all the risks — not just the COVID risks.”

“Any Australian, wherever they are, who needs medical treatment, should be able to access it, particularly in an emergency in any Australian hospital whatever state they’re in.”

Mr Morrison said it was unfortunate there had not been agreement within the National Cabinet on consistent principles to govern border restrictions, arguing there was a clear need for rules on exemptions.

“There can’t just be blanket arrangements here otherwise you place at risk the very real circumstances, which terribly sadly, we’ve seen occur.”

“Clearly, there needs to be an explanation as to why the exemption was not provided in this rather very extreme case. I think those answers are obviously necessary.”