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- The Prime Minister has taken aim at another State Premier over their handling of the coronavirus pandemic
- This time Scott Morrison has attacked Queensland Premier Annastasia Palaszczuck over her strict border closure measures
- The PM personally intervened after a woman was denied from being able to attend her father’s funeral in Queensland
- Both the Prime Minister and Premier have been moved to tears over the case, as they argue their opposing views
- The PM denied the issue is a political one, but has previously clashed with fellow Labor leaders, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and WA Premier Mark McGowan over borders
The Prime Minister’s latest border stoush with a State Premier has taken an emotional turn after both leaders were reduced to tears while arguing their cases.
Scott Morrison and Queensland Premier Annastasia Palaszczuck have butted heads in recent days over the state’s COVID-19 related border closure.
Sarah’s case
Specifically, the PM personally intervened after a young woman, Sarah Caisip, was barred from attending her father’s funeral in Queensland, as she was in quarantine.
Her case is similar to hundreds of others across Australia, as residents are barred from travelling interstate to see their families.
But, the PM took particular interest in Sarah’s case and called the Premier earlier this week to demand an exemption be provided to the woman in question.
In response, Premier Palaszczuk accused the Prime Minister of over-reaching and being a bully.
“I will not be bullied, nor will I be intimidated by the Prime Minister of this country,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“(Scott Morrison) contacted me this morning … and I made it very clear to the fact that it was not my decision,” she added.
Under Queensland’s COVID-19 border closure rules, only the state’s Chief Health Officer can provide an exemption for someone to enter the state without quarantining.
The border stoush didn’t end there though, with the PM then appearing on a radio show where he teared up when talking about Sarah’s plight.
Speaking to 2GB, Scott Morrison said: “sadly she wasn’t able to see her father before he passed.”
“All of us who have been through that process know how important that is. It’s still fresh in my mind,’’ he added.
The emotional address was enough for an exemption to be made by Queensland’s CHO, allowing the young woman to be escorted by police to say goodbye to her father privately.
More tears
Despite Sarah’s case finally reaching a resolution on Thursday, the political fight between the Queensland Premier and the Prime Minister is only heating up.
Premier Palaszczuck also broke down in tears when discussing the border closure issue today, confessing to reporters she too had lost loved ones during the pandemic.
“These are difficult decisions and they’re heartbreaking,” she said.
“They hurt me deeply because during this pandemic I have lost loved ones as well. I know exactly what people are going through, OK? Thanks,” she added.
Her breakdown comes as more exemption cases continue to pile-up, as loved ones remained barred from seeing their interstate relatives and appeal for the Government to intervene.
The Queensland Premier also accused the PM of making the border closure issue highly political, as the Prime Minister has primarily taken aim at Labor-led states.
In particular, Scott Morrison has been extremely critical of Victorian Leader Daniel Andrews’ lockdown measures and even briefly joined a lawsuit aimed at destroying WA Premier Mark McGowan’s hard border.
Meanwhile, the PM’s stoush with the Queensland Premier comes just weeks away from an election being held in the state — with residents to head to the polls on October 31.
Annastasia Palaszczuk’s Labor Government is at risk of being dethroned for the Liberal-National Party’s Government, led by Deb Frecklington.
However, Scott Morrison denies the timing of his intervention, or even the wider border issue, is a political move. Instead, he said it was all about compassion.
“It’s not about borders, it’s not about federation, it’s not about politicians, it’s not about elections,” he said.
“The only thing that matters is that Sarah can be with her [family] … while they mourn the passing of their father and husband Bernard.”
