Interstate testing and case control factors for SA border reopening
State and federal politicians from all sides have backed South Australia’s border closure as the Prime Minister redoubles his efforts to re-open interstate travel.
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South Australia’s strict border closure has received largely bipartisan political support, as pressure mounts on the Marshall Government to justify the decision.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison today turned his gaze to Liberal Premiers Steven Marshall and Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein, saying there were some “issues” about borders.
“Whether it’s in Tasmania or South Australia, Western Australia or Queensland … they have to justify that to their own citizens and the impacts that has,” Mr Morrison said.
“The expert medical advice at a national level never recommended internal borders within Australia. It’s not good for the economy.”
But State Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said he was yet to see a compelling case for easing border restrictions.
Senior SA Labor Senator Penny Wong encouraged Mr Marshall to take the advice of Public Health Officer here, Nicola Spurrier, saying she “has done a great job”.
The attack on borders by Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham had previously focused on Queensland, after it revealed restrictions would be in place until September.
Crossbench Senator Stirling Griff demanded the state health advice be publicly released. “None have effectively communicated this to their populations nor explained the economic costs of the elimination strategy that appear unlikely to provide any benefits to health,” Senator Griff said.
“They could open up now.”
But Prof. Spurrier said the state was monitoring interstate testing numbers and case control. “That’s the sort of thing we’ll be looking at in terms of making it easier to come to SA,” Professor Spurrier said.
“I know it’s not going fast enough for some people but … we need to be looking at our own epidemiology first, and we need to be reviewing that in the next couple of weeks.”
Premier Steven Marshall stood by the call.
“We have formed the opinion that we are better off as a state, in starting up businesses and getting people back employed if we keep that strong state border in place a little bit longer,” he said. Asked if the latest coronavirus case, a woman given an exemption to enter the state from Victoria, would result in a border crackdown, Mr Marshall said: “No”.
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SA Senator Birmingham said states with closed borders should open up if able to successfully continue to suppress COVID-19.
“As Tourism Minister and with tourism supporting one in 13 Australian jobs, I want to see state border restrictions lifted as soon as it is safe to do so,” he said. “Regardless of their politics or geography I will applaud the first state to lead the safe reopening of borders.”
Tourism and Transport Forum boss Margy Osmond said winter was not SA’s peak period for interstate tourism, but it would be well placed to claim its share of the domestic market when people were allowed to travel.
Liberal MPs Nicolle Flint and Tony Pasin – whose electorate borders Victoria – said the state should be very cautious about reopening its borders to states. Both want an easing of restrictions on businesses to aid intrastate trade.
An Adelaide Airport spokesman said it was “sensible to explore the reopening of state borders as soon as is practicable” based on expert health guidance.