Crowds at Brisbane Airport as border restriction looms

Brisbane’s domestic airport was bustling, and then deserted, as the final flights landed before Queensland’s border crackdown.

THERE were packed scenes at Brisbane Domestic Airport last night as locals rushed to make it back into Queensland before borders closed at midnight.

More than 100 people congregated around Jetstar’s baggage claim after flights from Sydney and Melbourne landed about 7pm.

The Porter family “immediately got on the first flight” available after hearing the Premier’s announcement on Monday that all people entering Queensland from midnight tonight will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

Passengers getting off one of the last flights from interstate before the lockout.

Ashley Porter, 24, and her parents Debra, 59 and John Porter, 62, were booked to fly back to Queensland on Sunday, but changed their flights to tonight in order to beat the border restrictions.

“There was not one seat left on the plane,” Ms Porter said.

Mrs Porter said she was “very grateful” the family had booked their flights through a travel agent, which meant they could change flights without dealing directly with airlines.

Anyone arriving in Queensland from another state or territory must self-isolate for 14 days unless they are considered exempt.

Crowds of people at the Brisbane airport after getting one of the last flights. Passenger getting off one of the last flights from interstate before the lockout. (AAP image, John Gass)

The border crackdown still allows people to undertake essential travel between their residence and place of work and allows freight, people with medical needs, court requirements, schools and childcare, compassionate grounds and other essential needs, and for those who straddle the border.

Tasmanian woman Nicole Lazaroff, 54, changed her flight to Queensland tonight to avoid the mandatory quarantine period.

She said she was coming to Queensland to visit her mother and assist taking her back to Tasmania in a few weeks time.

Nicole Lazaroff gets home on one of the last flights in Queensland before the mandatory quarantine period. (AAP image, John Gass)

“I was only going to come up for a couple of weeks anyway so I raced up,” she said.

“I had to change flights, I had to cancel one flight and all of that stuff.

“When we (her and her mother) go back to Tassie we will have to self-isolate there.”

Jess Emmerson age 18 has returned to Queensland after her university course was taken online and work experience cancelled. (AAP image, John Gass)