QLD NSW border: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces shock border decision
Stunned Gold Coast businesses have reacted with despair to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s announcement that the Queensland border will remain closed to people from greater Sydney. FULL DETAILS >>>
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FURIOUS Gold Coast tourism leaders say interstate travellers will “start booking elsewhere” if Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk refuses to detail when the people from the rich Sydney market will be welcomed back to Queensland.
Business owners say they are confused and angry by Queensland’s decision in late October to keep the border closed to greater Sydney.
They say the city’s 60,000 small businesses are “bleeding” and “hanging on by the skin of their teeth”.
Ms Palaszczuk announced borders will be open to most of NSW from November 3, but 32 local government areas in greater Sydney will remain banned from entering the state.
Those depending on the Sydney market for Christmas slammed the announcement as “confusing”, “contradictory” and a “death blow” for some.
Main Beach’s Get Wet Surf School owner Kerri Jekyll said staff eagerly awaiting the opening have been bitterly disappointed.
“I got through the winter. I was at peace with that but now we are getting ridiculous,” Ms Jekyll said.
“We all, as Queensland operators, all have our covid safe plans in place. We’ve had it drummed into us. We all know what to do now. It’s almost like, give us a chance.
“Put some faith in us. Let us prove we understand, let us prove our covid safe plans are all in place, let us prove we know social distancing.
“I can guarantee if someone from Victoria turned up to my business tomorrow, there would be no opportunity for any of our staff to get covid because we all know what to do.
“We are following the guidelines. It’s crazy now.
“I think people in Victoria and Sydney are starting to lose faith too. No one will book a holiday to the Gold Coast when it’s so uncertain and the lines in the sand keep changing.
“We’re ready. We’ve got this. Trust us.
“Trust the chief medical officer, trust you’ve taught us so well, trust the covid safe plans you’ve put in place will work, trust your contract tracing will work.
“Christmas was our holy grail with the summer holidays.
“Everyone from Melbourne and Sydney wants to come to the Gold Coast. It’s the ultimate destination for them after being locked up.
“But why would they risk losing their deposit when booking a holiday when it’s so uncertain.
“If you have all these systems in place, have faith in us.”
Aquaduck managing director Sarah Colgate was left speechless when gathering her thoughts about the border call.
“I can’t ... I need a moment to think, I am so frustrated,” she said when asked about the matter.
“It is devastating, absolutely devastating, not only for tourism, but the marine industry, the fishermen.
“Sydney is 50 per cent or more of our business, so cutting them out hits us hard.
“It seems to be all about votes, this isn’t a decision one way or the other, she can tell people who want the border closed that it is closed, and those who want it open that she has opened it. It is arse-covering.
“We are hanging on by the skin of our teeth. We have gone nine months without income.”
Small bar king Scott Imlach, the man behind hideaway Kitchen, Mr Hezolas and Bine, said he feared interstate tourists will go elsewhere.
“Sydney is what we need to restart tourism. Midweek trade is dire without them,” he said.
“They will start booking elsewhere. The government needs to take the foot off the pedal and give us a crack.
“I don’t understand how we can allow a football grand final with 30,000 people and no social distancing, but rule out a whole city.”
For airports, the decision has led to some confusion as residents will be allowed to travel to Queensland via Sydney Airport but will need to travel through Sydney without stopping in the city.
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said flights into the Gold Coast would need to be rescheduled.
“There were five Sydney services scheduled next Monday alone, based on the previous 1 November guidance,” he said. “Most of these services are now unlikely to happen.
“This is another setback for Queensland tourism businesses, and I feel for the small businesses and operators who rely on the passengers coming through our airport.
“The visitors booked to travel on these flights would have supported hotels, attractions, cafes and bars and other operators across the city.”
Mr Mills said the border change announced on Friday would not deliver the visitor numbers needed to support jobs and businesses on the Gold Coast.
“This is a disappointing and confusing decision,” he said.
“We still don’t have a clear road map out of this, and no guidance on when the border will open.
“Sydney remains closed, yet Sydney residents and Queenslanders can mingle in every other part of New South Wales, which is inconsistent.
“There is an urgent need for realistic, transparent and consistent controls to be established nationwide to manage this health crisis. Until this happens, businesses will struggle and further jobs will be at risk.”
Mayor Tom Tate called for the rest of NSW to be allowed in before the summer holidays.
“While I’m pleased that things continue to open up I know how important the Sydney market is to our tourism industry and this is another blow to them,” Cr Tate said.
“We need to be guided by the medical advice but I believe our borders need to open to Sydney for the summer holidays.”
Speaking at Parliament House on Friday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the stance was consistent with the COVID-19 response plan set out earlier this year.
“That is a strong border decision we have taken every step of the way,” the Premier said.
“The other area announcing today in relation to NSW, greater Sydney will remain closed to Queensland, that is 32 local government areas.”
The Premier said the decision had been based on the advice of the Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young.
Dr Young said the decision to keep Greater Sydney locked out came as four new cases of COVID-19 were located in the greater Sydney area, one of which could not be linked to known clusters.
“I have reviewed the situation in NSW,” Dr Young said.
“They have transmission and they don't know where it is coming from, yesterday they had four new cases and one of the cases they could not link to any other known clusters.
“NSW put out alerts for six different areas in Sydney.
“I believe it is important Queensland remain closed to those 32 LGAs in Sydney.
“We know that Sydney of course is one city and people move around that city, which is why the LGAs all need to be declared hots spots.”
Yesterday tourism bosses and hospitality heavyweights implored the premier to stick to the forecast November 1 open day, warning of major impacts to the local economy in the lead up to the Christmas holiday season.
CEO of Village Roadshow Clark Kirby said he had “blocked” Ms Palaszczuk from holding a media event at Sea World on Thursday in fury at her border stance.
Mr Kirby claimed the ongoing closures were costing jobs for the tourism sector.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has consistently said the border will open to all of NSW when the state recorded 28 days of no community transmission.
NSW recorded one new case of COVID-19 overnight and four new cases yesterday – three of which were a result of community transmission.
Queensland has five active cases, all of which had been acquired overseas.
One man who returned from overseas to the Gold Coast has been diagnosed and will be admitted to the Gold Coast University Hospital today.
Originally published as QLD NSW border: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces shock border decision