Dying Queensland man's family unable to say goodbye due to border lockdown
The family of a terminally ill Brisbane man not expected to see Christmas are unable to come from NSW to say goodbye – instead, they have been told only one of the man's children can cross the border.
The dying man's father said the response from Queensland Health was "ridiculous" and he has taken particular offence to the contrast with the Lady Pamela case, in which the passengers and crew who travelled from Melbourne to the Gold Coast on the luxury yacht were allowed to remain in Queensland.
Mark Keans, 39, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, but his family – including his parents and his children – are stuck in NSW.
Queensland opposition leader Deb Frecklington told state parliament on Wednesday that Mr Keans' four children, father and brother were not granted a border exemption to say their goodbyes.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was grilled during Question Time over the “double standards” of the state’s border-exemption program, which has allowed AFL players and millionaires into the state and denied “ordinary Queenslanders” the right to say goodbye to loved ones.
Ms Palaszczuk palmed off responsibility to Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young and her team, who are responsible for dealing with exemption requests.
"There is a unit to deal with exemptions and they are decided by the chief health officer, they are not decided by politicians and nor should they – these are clinical decisions," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"The Leader of the Opposition called for the borders to be opened and the consequences would have been diabolical for this state, absolutely diabolical."
Queenslander Mark Keans has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and remains in a Brisbane hospital.Credit:The Today Show
Mr Keans' father, Bruce Langborne, said it was a "hard" time fighting to get across the border, but in some ways, it has brought the family "closer together".
"Well, basically, what [we were told by Queensland Health is], one, we had too many people trying to come up," he told Nine's The Today Show.
"Two, we weren't allowed to drive, we had to fly in and then we probably wouldn't get out of the airport anyway, they'd send us back.
"Three, by us wanting to come and see Mark, we're being selfish and not taking any thought as to the welfare of the other cancer patients.
"We could not pick one [child] over any of the others. It's impossible. Every one of them deserves it.
"To me, I think it's ridiculous. The worst one, more so, are the AFL ones, are the ones on the boat [Lady Pamela]. You've got some multimillionaire gets charged $1000 to spend time in Queensland so he can do as he wants.
"Hopefully, between us and the publicity we've been getting and our local members, we can get something resolved so we can get something resolved so we can get to see him."
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he was appalled by the case.
"I can only express my supreme anger at the Queensland Premier's decision, which, in my view, is nothing more than base loopy politics," he said.
Queensland Health has been contacted for comment.