Coronavirus: Queensland Premier killing economy with border stance

If Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wants to put the outcome of the upcoming state election beyond any doubt, she will leave her borders closed until September, writes Peter Gleeson. Killing off tourism is a sure-fire way to lose office.

If Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wants to put the outcome of the upcoming state election beyond any doubt, she will leave the borders closed until September.

Killing off tourism – our second most lucrative industry - when the most obvious decision is to lift the border closures, is a sure-fire way to lose office.

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The livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Queenslanders are at stake. Flattening the curve is one thing, flattening the economy is another.

There are many reasons why the Palaszczuk Government does not deserve to be returned to government on October 31.

They are a do-nothing government, afraid to make tough decisions around cutting bureaucracy and kickstarting industry, including coal.

Run by the Left faction, this is a government that puts ideology before practicality. They’d rather appease the inner city elites and ban tree clearing so that farmers and landholders are susceptible to fire.

They’d rather push through a pro-abortion agenda, effectively allowing a woman to abort a baby at 32 weeks, with a letter from a doctor.

They’d rather let a black throated finch stop a mining project, and then spectacularly reverse the decision when Bill Shorten lost.

They’ve allowed several senior Ministers, including former Treasurer Jackie Trad, to remain in Cabinet after integrity scandals.

Trad fell on her sword and exited cabinet after the unions told her it was all over. That’s how much power the unions have. These are the same unions that demand EBAs that send the cost of a project up by 30 per cent.

The worst-performing state economically, no plan to address the ballooning $90 billion debt … need I go on?

A COVID-19 signage is seen at a vehicle checkpoint on the Pacific Highway on the Queensland - New South Wales border. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)

The LNP should shoo it in but the polls are 50-50. Incredible. However, there’s one issue that will seal Palaszczuk’s fate without question if she continues to defer to her chief medical officer Jeannette Young on opening the borders.

If the borders are not opened until September – as she indicated yesterday – this will be an electoral bloodbath for Labor.

The deputy CMO Paul Kelly says there is no legitimate reason to keep the borders closed. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has implored premiers in Qld and other states to open their borders.

The risk of infection is there. Yes. But we’ve flattened the curve and the outlook looks strong. The economic impact of keeping the borders closed far outweighs the health narrative.

The tourism operators in Queensland are desperate for some political sunshine. They need cashed up southerners travelling to Queensland in winter to escape the southern cold.

It’s a bonanza they need more than ever. It’s a tourism and economic windfall that is not only needed, but is common sense.

Depriving the tourism industry of a much-needed boost – in all states and territories – during winter and beyond is sheer madness.

The art of politics is making the impossible possible. This is a no-brainer. It’s an easy decision, not one that should tie the premier up in knots.

If Palaszczuk digs in on this and closes the borders until September, she will put the icing on the mediocrity cake and lose handsomely come October 31.