Stranded Queenslanders left in limbo while govt refuses to set a date

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed she won’t tell Queenslanders when she will reopen the borders until after the next national cabinet meeting in November.

Queenslanders will remain in the dark on when the state’s borders might open until at least November, according to the Premier.

Annastacia Palaszczuk said yesterday she wouldn’t consider opening up to Victoria, New South Wales, and the ACT until vaccination rates increased.

“There will be another national cabinet meeting next month, and we hope to be in a position then but we will open when it’s safe to do so,” she said.

“We’re looking very closely at what is happening in NSW and Victoria and I note there was some easing of restrictions in NSW.

“Their vaccination rates are going up quite steadily, which is great.

The government's ongoing dithering over borders has been lashed by industry leaders – including the CCIQ who said every day of ongoing uncertainty meant more losses for businesses.

CCIQ Policy and Advocacy General Manager Amanda Rohan said Queensland businesses

were now among the last in the country without a state led Covid economic recovery commitment.

“There is a risk the Queensland economy will be left behind when businesses in other states,

even locked down states, have some kind of recovery and reopening plan to work towards,”

Ms Rohan said.

Restaurant and Catering Association CEO Wes Lambert said: “It is critical that the Queensland Government makes up its mind on border closures and comes up with a plan to learn to live with Covid instead of indicating borders will remain shut potentially beyond Christmas.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath echoed the Premier’s comments on borders, saying the decision would be discussed at national cabinet with more modelling being done.

“(Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young) and the Premier have made it very clear to open the borders they need to make sure every Queenslander has had the chance to get the vaccine,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said it would not be until November that every eligible Queenslander had been given a fair chance to get the vaccine.

The news is another blow for stranded Queenslanders, including a group stuck a caravan park in Murwillumbah, south of the Tweed border crossing.

Returning and relocating Queenslanders have spent weeks in insecure accommodation, ranging from sleeping in their cars, tents, or run-down caravans awaiting their fate on border application passes.

As of October 1, Queensland Police Service was processing 8310 border pass applications.

A QPS spokeswoman said the organisation understood the difficult situations of many wishing to return to Queensland and asked for patience as they process a significant number of applications.

QPS would not comment on the circumstances of families in Murwillumbah, nor any individual application.

A home quarantine trial for returning Queenslanders will start on Monday with 300 of the 1000 people already selected.

To be eligible for the trial must be able to quarantine in a freestanding house either alone or with every other occupant able to quarantine as well, live wishing two hours of the Brisbane airport and be fully vaccinated.