MP Littleproud tore into Palaszczuk for not allowing a Western Downs family with a sick baby to quarantine at home

MP David Littleproud slammed the Premier for being ‘inhumane’ by not allowing a Jandowae family to travel from a Delta hotspot in Sydney to Dalby on the Western Downs.

Jessie Evans and Billy Blacker with their son Rocka, 4 months, in Double Bay. The Western Downs family traveled to NSW for medical treatment for Rocka. Now they are having trouble getting back home. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

A Western Downs family who travelled to Sydney to get medical treatment for their sick baby have been granted permission to quarantine in Brisbane together – but Maranoa MP David Littleproud said it wasn’t good enough.

Jessie Evans and Billy Blacker with their son Rocka, 4 months, in Double Bay. The Western Downs family traveled to NSW for medical treatment for Rocka. Now they are having trouble getting back home. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

In August Jandowae parents Jessie Evans and Billie Blacker travelled to New South Wales to ensure the best medical treatment for their four-month-old baby, Rocka.

Rocka was diagnosed with the rare illness, type one spinal muscular atrophy.

When the family tried to head home from the Delta riddled capital, Queensland Health originally said they’d be separated during quarantine, sending Rocka and his mum to hospital, while his dad was forced to go to a hotel.

More than anything, the young family wanted to head back to the Western Downs and care for their child in the comfort of their own home.

An article published by the Courier Mail reported Ms Evans said Queensland Health told her it would be safer for her family to quarantine in Brisbane rather than on the Western Downs.

“I just want to get home because that’s in the best interest of my baby,” she said.

“We wouldn’t risk anything with Rocka, we’re not silly and nor are the doctors.”

Maranoa MP David Littleproud slammed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk over Queensland Health’s handling of the situation.

“This is nearing on inhumane what she is doing to some of these people,” he said.

Mr Littleproud said he saw no issue as to why the family couldn’t fly to Dalby before driving to Jandowae.

“They’ve got a sick little boy. It’s hardly as though they’re going to be running around the streets in Jandowae going to the pub,” he said.

Rocka Blacker, 4 months, in Double Bay. The Western Downs family traveled to NSW for medical treatment for Rocka. Now they are having trouble getting back home. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“Their boy is vulnerable as anyone else so they’re not going to do anything stupid.”

After writing a letter to the Premier to request special circumstances to the family, Mr Littleproud said it was time for compassion and common sense.

“The politics needs to stop,” said the politician.

“The stupidity needs to stop and just get out of people’s lives when it gets to this state and find a pathway for them to look after their family.”

The MP said the Premier won the election keeping people safe and shutting borders but said it wasn’t sustainable in the long run, that Queenslanders needed to accept a Delta outbreak would happen.

“We are going to get Delta at some point and at that juncture we’re going to be in a situation that Victoria and New South Wales are dealing with,” he said.

“We are going to have to take this bold step of having vaccines in our arms.

“There’s going to need (to be) some leadership where the premiers realise we can’t govern by lines on a map that were put there 120 years ago.”

Originally published as MP Littleproud tore into Palaszczuk for not allowing a Western Downs family with a sick baby to quarantine at home