Coronavirus Qld comment: The moment Premier realised she’d lost us

A run of positive NSW COVID-19 results will see our border lockdown reconsidered on June 30, but under the Premier’s previous position it shouldn’t be considered until mid-July. So what changed? Well, two things, actually, writes Steven Wardill.

NOBODY mention September.

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s rhetoric has certainly shifted since she caused a firestorm for her Government by suggesting the Queensland border may be closed for many more months.

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She’s now walked that back considerably by saying the border could be opened in July when the decision is considered again at the end of this month.

So what has changed in the interim?

Well a couple of things and they are crucial.

Firstly, New South Wales has had only one locally-acquired case of COVID-19 since late May which occurred this week.

That should have meant the border would not be reconsidered until the second week of July under the Government’s previous position that it won’t open Queensland until southern states go two incubation periods, or 28 days, without a case.

However, Palaszczuk seems to have softened on that stance since the Government has come under sustained criticism for keeping the border closed.

The second thing that changed the dynamic of the border debate is the protest on the weekend.

The Premier might not have endorsed the mass defiance of coronavirus restrictions.

Nonetheless, it has severely undermined her position that Queensland needs to keep its borders closed and maintain other restrictions to stop a second wave of cases.

Why should livelihoods be ruined and jobs lost to keep COVID-19 under control when protests are occurring that are out of control?

Queensland were likely divided on the border debate until the weekend.

But when protestors marched in King George Square, they effectively forced the Government to rethink keeping Queensland closed because of the political risk of a much bigger uprising.