Devastated son slams QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
A heartbroken man has broken down in tears after being refused entry to Queensland to see his dying father, despite being fully vaccinated.
Mark Killian and his wife Anneli have flown from Los Angeles to Sydney after being granted a travel exemption by the federal government and NSW Health, but they were refused a quarantine exemption by Queensland Health Officials.
Killian's 80-year-old father Frans is currently dying of pancreatic cancer in a hospital on the Gold Coast and weighs just 44 kilograms.
He told Karl Stefanovic on Today that all he wants is to say "I love you" to his father one last time.
"We just want to be there for those last days, moments... That's all we want. That's all that all of this is about," Killian explained.
"I don't think we have ever experienced anything like this in our lives. It has been on a personal level absolutely tragic for our family.
"To be locked in a room in Sydney when all it would take is just the show of compassion by [The Premier and the Health Minister of Queensland] that could change the entire trajectory of a family's experience of the last days of their family, it is inconceivable that they would not allow that."
"What's the point of getting vaccinated if we're not up for exemptions for compassionate reasons like this?" @AllisonLangdon hits at the heart of the issue surrounding a dying man's plea to allow his fully-vaccinated family to skip hotel quarantine to visit him. #9Today pic.twitter.com/dd1qogjAJv
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) June 22, 2021
Kilian said that it was a sign of hope when the Queensland Premier addressed the situation directly when fronting the media.
"That is at least a development. And then we also got a personal letter from the Prime Minister giving us his compassionate support but also stating that the Federal Government has no ability to affect the state law," he said.
"Meanwhile, the Premier of Queensland basically said the opposite. It is a little bit of a passing the buck situation. But at least there is movement."
Former Opposition Leader Bill Shorton called on Palaszczuk to exercise compassion.
"I know that the Queensland and federal officials are in a bit of a no-win situation because if you say yes to this, then where do you draw the line. But on the other hand, common sense is common sense," he told Stefanovic.
"I just want someone to be able to say goodbye to their parent. As a country, we are surely smart enough to put them in a special transport van and you know, the technical experts could come up with a solution.
"For everyone who has been through Covid, rather than worrying about how everyone else will react, I reckon at least 5million Melburnians would say give them a chance to say goodbye."
Kilian's father Fran made a tearful plea from his hospital bed to the Queensland Government.
"Every day that they are in that hotel, is a day less that I have with my son and daughter-in-law in my last days," he said.
"Please Queensland Health. Show some compassion. And help an old man see someone before it is too late.
"By all accounts, there is no danger to the Queensland community. I'm asking you, begging you actually, to let my son and his wife leave their quarantine to come here to be with me. It is my dying wish. Please."