A Melbourne couple is furious with the federal government for failing to help them get their two year old daughter out of Wuhan, China, epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

Little Chloe Nuoyi Zhao is an Australian citizen.  The family had been visiting her grandparents in Wuhan, and Chloe was left in their care while the parents briefly returned to Melbourne intending to go back on 25 January to pick her up and bring her home.  

But just before the flight, China imposed its travel ban on Wuhan.  And then last Saturday, Australia imposed strict restrictions denying entry to people who had left or transited through China.

Chloe is entitled to be evacuated.  But the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is refusing to do that, according to Chloe's mum Yuchen Cao, because she is an unaccompanied minor and "too young" to travel by herself.  Officials won't allow the grandparents to accompany the toddler because they are not Australian citizens.

"Our request for help just fell on deaf ears," said Ms. Cao, an engineer.  "The Chinese authorities said they will allow my daughter to be evacuated with my parents if the Australian Government permitted.

"But we felt helpless when Australian authorities simply shifted their responsibility to other departments. We don't know if there is any internal communication between different departments," she continued.

A DFAT spokeswoman said there were "added complexities" because of Chloe's age, but she couldn't comment further because of "privacy concerns".