Woman with cancer denied return home to QLD after attending funeral
A Queensland woman has been stranded in a NSW border town for weeks after attending her mother’s funeral in Victoria.
Sharen Gordon is battling cancer and has no idea when she will be granted permission to return home for treatment.
"I do struggle. Some days it's really hard not to just curl up in a ball and cry," she tearfully told the Today program from outside a motel room in Chinderah, near the NSW-Queensland border.
She said Queensland Health was slow to respond to her border exemption request after being initially denied entry.
When Queensland Health did email back 17 days later, Ms Gordon was told she would have to complete hotel quarantine in Sydney, which is at the centre of the Covid crisis, before being allowed to fly into Queensland.
She also can’t apply for another entry pass until September 8.
Ms Gordon is at breaking point, as her situation becomes more desperate.
"Something is not right," she said.
"It's not fair. I live 78 kilometres from where I'm standing now. I can drive there directly without stopping.
"I live on nine acres. I don't have to see anybody. I don't have to have any contact.
"I can easily quarantine at home. They won't let me".
The Queensland government has ruled out a trial of home quarantine arrangements until results from South Australia’s trial have been released.
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QLD government under fire for border bans
It comes as sporting families have been allowed into the state, despite the Queensland government’s tough border stance and ban on hotel quarantine.
More than 100 border passes have been granted to NRL players’ family members and league officials.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk continues to distance herself from the exemption process.
"I didn't grant the exemptions, the chief health officer granted the exemptions," she told reporters yesterday afternoon.
However she is defending the decision to allow Australian and Indian women cricketers into hotel quarantine ahead of their series.
"It's outside the cap so it's not to do with the cap which is used for domestic (quarantine)," she said.
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