The Project DEFEND Queensland for letting footy WAGs cross border

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Stars of The Project have defended Annastacia Palazczuk’s controversial move to allow a planeload full of NRL partners, officials and family members to jet into Queensland without having to undergo the usual 14 days of hotel quarantine.

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Those on board the charter flight, which arrived in Brisbane on Monday night from Covid hot spot Sydney, have been granted permission to self-isolate for the two week period at a luxury resort.

But regular Australians will be treated very differently, after the Queensland government paused its hotel quarantine program for arrivals from NSW, Victoria and the ACT because the number of people returning or relocating to the state had ‘overwhelmed’ the system.

Despite the seemingly unfair double standard, and even speaking to families struggling under the restrictions, hosts of The Project defending letting NRL stars into the state instead – saying they aren’t taking away spots from ordinary Aussies.

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NRL partners and family members arrive in Queensland on July 21 after the competition was relocated due to Sydney’s coronavirus outbreak

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The Queensland government announced last week it would pause its hotel quarantine program for arrivals from NSW, Victoria and the ACT but the NRL was granted an exemption. Pictured: NRL family members arrive in Queensland on July 21

Queenslanders locked out of their home state were furious at the policy, which has left them stranded and in many cases separated from their immediate family.

There are now growing calls to introduce a home quarantine system which is currently being trialled in South Australia.

‘I can totally understand why they would call for the home quarantine thing, but at the same time I can’t imagine a Premier saying “I’m going to go ahead with this while there’s a trial and we don’t have the results of that trial”,’ Host Waleed Aly said.

‘I think there are legitimate questions that are being asked about some of the people that aren’t getting in.

‘I see the NRL thing, I think it’s sort of a different category.’

Panellist Georgie Tunny agreed, despite saying she’s only been able to see her Queensland family once in the past two years due to the ongoing harsh Covid restrictions imposed by the Palazczuk government.

‘I understand the gripe and the perceived double standard with football players being allowed in and their families,’ she said.

‘The key here is that it’s a separate facility, not taking away spots from people who would theoretically be allowed in if granted an exemption to hotel quarantine.

‘And also I think the key is hopefully the home quarantine system we’re seeing in South Australia – Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says they’re very interested in the success of that.

‘What’s tough is this doesn’t help anyone in these situations like Natalie.’  

Natalie Victor, who started the Facebook group, ‘Homeless outside QLD due to border restrictions’ told the Channel Ten panel that lives are being ruined because of the harsh measures.

‘There are so many heartbreaking stories of people being displaced and left homeless living in tents, in their cars and in caravans with no running water or electricity,’ she said.

‘A lot of people have been financially ruined and a lot of their kids are now not able to get the childcare needed for special needs and also education.’

Ms Victor made it to hotel quarantine before the cut-off date but her husband remains stuck at the border with their dogs, and she hasn’t seen him in five weeks.

‘It’s very difficult and demoralising with so much uncertainty,’ she said before taking aim at the decision to grant the NRL wide ranging exemptions.

‘We were outraged. I was very disappointed and angry that those rooms are now taken by a sports federation and it almost feels like sport is more important than people’s livelihoods and homelessness,’ Ms Victor said.

The NRL was given the exemption because the resort they are staying at is outside the hotel quarantine network and does not infringe capacity of inbound travellers.

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People are seen among Police in Coolangatta on the New South Wales and Queensland border during an anti-lockdown protest (pictured on Sunday)

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Australian Defence Force and Queensland Police talk in Griffith street Coolangatta at the Queensland border on Sunday


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