PM hits out at Queensland over man blocked from seeing dying dad

The Prime Minister has blamed Queensland authorities for failing to resolve the "tragic" case of a couple left stranded in hotel quarantine while trying to visit a dying relative.

Mark Kilian and Anneli Gericke are stuck in isolation in Sydney after travelling from the US to visit Mr Kilian's dying father in Queensland.

A last-minute rejection from Queensland Health — following successful appeals to Border Force and NSW Health for exemptions — came through as the fully vaccinated husband and wife sat on the tarmac waiting to depart Los Angeles International Airport. 

READ MORE: Man hospitalised after allegedly scaling wall to escape Queensland quarantine

Mark Kilian and wife Anneli Gericke have been refused entry into Queensland as Mark's father dies from pancreatic cancer.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in a letter shared online overnight, chided Queensland authorities for their handling of the situation, saying Mr Kilian had done "everything you possibly can" to see his dying father. Frans Kilian, 80, was moved to hospital last week as his pancreatic cancer worsened.

"We didn't think he was going to make it through yesterday, I think he'd been holding on for us to get there,' Mr Kilian told 9News last week

"When he heard we weren't coming he just took a turn."

Mr Morrison said having farewelled his father last year, he knew how important times like these were to families, which was why the Department of Home Affairs granted an exemption for the couple to travel to Australia.

"I know what an important time this is for you and that you can never get these days back," he said in a letter to Mr Kilian dated June 22. 

"I am disappointed the Queensland Government has not found a workable and compassionate solution.

"However, the Australian Government does not have authority to step in and provide exemptions from hotel quarantine for travel into Queensland. Under our federation, these decisions are made by the Queensland Government."

READ MORE: Two trans-Tasman flights added to Sydney COVID-19 exposure list

https://twitter.com/TimArvier9/status/1407299109653041154

On Tuesday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk admitted the situation was "absolutely tragic" but said her hands were tied by national guidelines on hotel quarantine.

However, she did allow a sliver of hope to shine through for the stranded couple.

"If the Federal Government wants to talk to both states, I'm happy to facilitate that," she said.

Mr Kilian's father Frans weighs 44 kilograms.

"But this [hotel quarantine] applies to everybody. This applies to everyone. Every single person."

Mr Kilian fears if he and his wife are made to complete their two weeks in hotel quarantine he won't get to say goodbye to his father.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian previously asked her counterparts to show compassion on border exemptions, calling for decisions about reuniting families to be based on "human dignity".

"My heart breaks when I hear about stories like this," she said, while refusing to intervene in individual cases.

"New South Wales has always tried to have a compassionate approach especially when there are circumstances such as this one.

"I just ask all of my colleagues to think carefully before preventing families from being united at a very difficult time."

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.



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