Coronavirus Qld: Why state must re-open the borders on July 1 – Deb Frecklington

More than 204,000 Queenslanders are officially unemployed – the highest number ever recorded in this state. We must take immediate action to address this jobs crisis, and that means Queensland must open its interstate borders on July 1, writes Deb Frecklington.

IN the past few weeks I’ve visited the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Townsville and Far North Queensland.

I love getting out to every corner of Queensland, but these visits have been heart-breaking.

The regional economy was in bad shape before coronavirus came along, but now it has gone off a cliff.

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At every stop I spoke to Queenslanders who have lost their jobs or seen the businesses they spent years building up go to the wall.

Most people were trying to stay positive, but I saw real despair.

More than 204,000 Queenslanders are now officially unemployed – the highest number ever recorded in this state. We must take immediate action to address this jobs crisis.

Queenslanders flattened the curve months ago. Now it’s time for Labor to stop flattening the economy.

And that means Queensland must open its interstate borders on July 1.

No other state has been as damaged by border closures as Queensland. The economy of whole regions are dependent on tourism.

Economic modelling has revealed the border closure is destroying more than 1000 jobs a week in Queensland – more than in any other state.

Brisbane is not being spared this pain. After the Gold Coast, our capital city is the biggest draw for interstate tourists and its tourism and hospitality sector has been smashed.

I understand that many people are fearful about re-opening our borders.

Coronavirus is a dangerous disease and Queenslanders will certainly need to be cautious for a long time to come. But we cannot be paralysed by fear.

It is important to remember that the Prime Minister and the nation’s Chief Medical Officer have both stressed there is no medical reason to close interstate borders.

That has always been their position. Scott Morrison wants to get every state and every Australian back to work – and so do I.

It’s also important to remember that interstate borders have remained open between NSW, Victoria and the ACT throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

Australia has managed to flatten the curve without interstate border restrictions being imposed on more than half the nation’s population.

The challenge we now face is learning to live with coronavirus.

Queensland’s experience and that of countries around the world shows a combination of social-distancing, safe hygiene and track-and-trace systems can suppress the virus.

Unfortunately, nowhere has been able to eradicate the virus and no vaccine is available. So hiding under the doona and hoping coronavirus goes away is not an option.

The increase in infections in Victoria was not caused by open borders, but by people marching on mass protests and failing to disclose their movements to health workers.

It’s that kind of selfish behaviour that is the biggest threat to Queenslanders – not our borders.

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s failure to stop Brisbane’s recent protests has sent out a dangerous message that coronavirus restrictions can be ignored.

It’s another example of the Premier’s damaging mixed messages.

The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s shifting, shambolic announcements on the border have closed too many businesses and cost countless jobs in Queensland’s tourism industry.

Instead of the politics of fear, we need the politics of hope.

Queenslanders have flattened the curve; now it’s time to stop flattening the economy. And the first step on the path to recovery is opening our borders.

Deb Frecklington is Leader of the Opposition