Sam Armytage blasts 'astounding' Queensland border debacle – as she slams Annastacia Palaszczuk for 'playing the bullying card' in incredible stoush with the prime minister
- Samantha Armytage slammed Annastacia Palaszczuk for 'playing bullying card'
- The Sunrise host said she was 'astounded' by the Queensland border debacle
- Sarah Caisip was denied attending her father's funeral in Brisbane on Thursday
- Scott Morrison called the Ms Palaszczuk to ask for an exemption for Ms Caisip
Samantha Armytage has slammed Annastacia Palaszczuk for 'playing the bullying card' after she refused to let a woman leave hotel quarantine for her father's funeral.
The Sunrise host said she was 'astounded' by the Queensland border debacle as she was joined by One Nation MP Mark Latham and former premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett on Friday morning.
'I was astounded and I watched the news last night and I saw Annastacia Palaszczuk play the bullying card,' Armytage said.
'Scott Morrison got involved in this situation... He shouldn't have had to but he did.'
Sarah Caisip is pictured with her father Bernard Prendergast, 11-year-old sister Isobel Prendergast and mother Myrna Prendergast. The 26-year-old was denied a quarantine exemption from the Queensland government to attend her father's funeral in Brisbane on Thursday
Ms Palaszczuk lashed out at Mr Morrison in Parliament after the phone call, claiming he tried to intimidate and bully her into bending the rules for Ms Caisip
The prime minister called the premier to ask for an exemption to allow Sarah Caisip to join her family at her father Bernard's memorial service in Brisbane on Thursday.
Despite Mr Morrison's input, the 26-year-old Canberra-based nurse was denied the chance to join her grieving family and instead had a private viewing on her own after the funeral.
Ms Palaszczuk lashed out at Mr Morrison in Parliament after the phone call, claiming he tried to intimidate and bully her into bending the rules for Ms Caisip.
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Mr Morrison responded to her claims on Sky News on Thursday night.
'I don't really care what they say about me,' Mr Morrison said.
'It's not about me. It's not about her. It was about Sarah. It was about Isobel. It was about Myrna. And and it was about Bernard [Ms Caisip's family]. That's the only stuff that mattered today.
The Sunrise host said she was 'astounded' by the Queensland border debacle as she was joined by One Nation MP Mark Latham and former premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett on Friday morning
Mr Prendergast's family and friends are seen at his funeral service in Brisbane on Thursday
'It wasn't about borders. It wasn't about whether they should be up or down. It wasn't even about jobs today. And jobs are incredibly important, as you know. But this was just one day I had hoped that something different could be done.'
Armytage said it was 'beyond comprehension' that Ms Caisip was denied the chance to attend the funeral.
'The extra trauma that has been put on to that poor young woman, not only in losing her father during this time, but not being able to attend his funeral,' she said.
'I just feel so desperately for this girl and her family.
'It is beyond comprehension that this would happen here at in Australia.'
Armytage said it was 'beyond comprehension' that Ms Caisip (pictured) was denied the chance to attend the funeral. 'The extra trauma that has been put on to that poor young woman, not only in losing her father during this time, but not being able to attend his funeral,' she said
Mr Latham said there was a 'shocking' double-standard in the premier's decision making.
'I find it hard to believe that governments can create a quarantine bubble for football players, for 400 AFL officials lounging by the pool on the Gold Coast,' he said.
'For Tom Hanks flying back into Australia, he brought COVID here once, he's coming back in, no quarantine.
'But we can't have a compassionate bubble arrangement so that a grieving daughter can go to her father's funeral, so that small children can visit their dying father in a hospital.'
Mr Latham said the 'two sets of rules' - one for the 'rich elite' and the other for grieving families - needs to be corrected.
More to come
Sarah Caisip is seen wearing a face mask and shield. She was granted permission to see her father's body but not attend the funeral
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