Covid Qld: ‘Tightest’ ever border control measures put in place

Queensland has put in place its “tightest” ever border control measures as police barricade the state from people attempting to enter from New South Wales.

Queensland has put in place its “tightest” ever border control measures as police barricade the state from people attempting to enter from New South Wales.

With NSW now in a seven-day lockdown, authorities are warning to Queenslanders not the cross over the border.

The southern state recorded another 415 cases and four deaths overnight.

Only a small group of essential workers will be allowed to cross into Queensland from NSW border communities, with police confirming they will be stopping every single car for the first time.

“We worked very hard yesterday, late afternoon into the evening to get extra police presence down there,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“Now because all of New South Wales is in a lockdown position, there should be very minimal movement over their border, and that extra police presence out will ensure that we will do everything we can to keep Queenslanders safe.

“This is probably the tightest border controls we’ve put in place.”

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said crews had to be activated “very quickly” after NSW authorities announced the seven day lockdown just two hours before it was due to begin.

“You will see every vehicle being intercepted coming into Queensland,” Ms Carroll said.

“I ask Queenslanders not to travel into New South Wales and those coming from NSW can only come in if they have an exemption or are part of the essential worker group.

“We spoke to all the mayors across the border with NSW late yesterday afternoon to notify them what was happening.

“As you can appreciate it did happen very very quickly and I thank my police for ramping up quickly to address that issue.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“I ask that people be patient, there may be queues but the traffic was quite light last night.

“In fact there were only 10-minute waiting periods on the M1 but that may increase tomorrow.

“Every vehicle will be intercepted, please be patient, please comply and please work with us.”

She called for people to be patient at the Queensland-NSW border as she expects queues to form amid the statewide lockdown of NSW.

“I ask Queenslanders not to travel into New South Wales, and those coming from New South Wales can only come in if they have an exemption or part of the essential working group,” Ms Carroll said.