An extraordinary political dispute has broken out over Hollywood actor Tom Hanks' entry into Queensland, with the state's Deputy Premier accusing the federal Home Affairs Minister of lying about who approved the exemption.
Hanks, who contracted coronavirus earlier this year, arrived on the Gold Coast on Tuesday night with cast, crew and 11 family members to film an Elvis Presley biopic. He was granted an exemption from Queensland's strict border rules and is quarantining at a resort rather than a state facility.
Federal Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton criticised the Queensland government on Friday, saying: 'If you are Tom Hanks from California, you are okay. If you are Tom Hanks from Chermside or Castle Hill, sorry, you are not coming in.'
Deputy Premier Steven Miles hit back on Saturday, claiming the Australian Border Force, which falls under Dutton's department, had granted permission. 'He was saying that it was us that let Tom Hanks in, when in fact it was him and his own department that let Tom Hanks in,' Miles said, accusing Dutton of lying.
The row comes amid broader criticism of Queensland's border policies, which have allowed AFL players and Hollywood stars special treatment while separating ordinary families. In one case, nurse Sarah Caisip was unable to attend her father's funeral after her exemption application took 20 days to process, and he died before she could travel.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended the decisions, saying they are based on health advice, but has faced accusations of inconsistency. A fundraising page for a truck driver's family, who must pay for quarantine to visit him before he dies of cancer, has raised over $200,000.
