Annastacia Palaszczuk slams claim border closure is political
Annastacia Palaszczuk has slammed a claim that Queensland’s border closures are political, telling the NSW Health Minister to concentrate on issues in his own state. It comes as Labor today committed money to upgrading schools and the LNP committed $50m to a Central Queensland highway.
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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has slammed as “rubbish” NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard’s claim her border closure is political, and said he’s trying to “distract” from what’s happening in his own state.
Ms Palaszczuk, campaigning in Cairns, said she would not budge on the 28-day no-community-transmission rule to reopen state borders.
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Mr Hazzard told ABC Radio National this morning that, “Palaszczuk has decided she is in an election phase and is playing games with the community”.
He said he had evidence but declined to share it.
Asked about the statement at a press conference, Ms Palaszczuk said: “rubbish”.
“Can he just concentrate on his own issues as health minister of NSW? Get on top of those cases, which is good, we’re seeing that happen in NSW, we’re very pleased with that…but honestly, I’m not going to be distracted by someone who is trying to distract from what’s happening in their own state.”
Asked whether QLD and NSW were at an impasse on borders, and whether the current system should be reconsidered in favour of a regional “hot spot” plan, Ms Palaszczuk blamed the Prime Minister.
“There was a proposal that was supposed to go to national cabinet, and for some reason unbeknownst to me, the Prime Minister decided not to bring that forward. The AHPPC had agreed, is my understanding, on a set of terms and conditions, and it never proceeded to national cabinet.”
Ms Palaszczuk said she would take advice from Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young about the “persistent” sewage tests showing COVID-19 in Airlie Beach.
Ms Palaszczuk acknowledged the tourism industry was struggling in Cairns, but placed the blame on the international borders being shut. She would not say whether there would be an industry-wide rescue plan
Skyrail’s Ken Chapman said usually at this time of year 60 per cent of its business came from overseas, nearly 20 per cent from Victoria, and about 16 per cent from Queensland. Queenslanders have tripled their usual numbers.
The government announced a $5m concessional loan for Skyrail, part of an $870m previously announced package to help industries struggling with COVID-19. That
The Skyrail cableway linking Cairns to Kuranda, both in the marginal Labor electorate of Barron River, was shut from March to September, and is now only open four days a week.
Ms Palasczuk today promised to spend another $1 billion on the education sector to upgrade schools, which will in turn provide significant work for tradies.
“Our Great Schools, Great Future policy will provide new, modern learning facilities for young Queenslanders no matter where they live, with the added economic benefit of providing jobs for local tradespeople,” she said in Cairns on Friday afternoon.
The initiative will be spent on upgrading dozens of education centres across the state as well constructing 16 new schools to meet demand of rising population.
“Not only will this mean more comfortable and modern educational facilities, but it also means a significant pipeline of work for local tradies,” the premier said.
“Queensland’s economic recovery from COVID-19 begins with job creation and our investments will see the creation of more than 3,100 local construction jobs across the state.”
Meanwhile, in Central Queensland, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has fattened her infrastructure pitch to voters with a $50 million commitment to upgrade the Peak Downs Highway.
She told reporters on Friday the investment would create 150 construction jobs.
“An LNP Government will upgrade sections of the highway under three packages, including widening areas between Mackay and Nebo, widening areas between Nebo and Clermont, overtaking lanes and the replacement of eight narrow bridges,” Ms Frecklington said.
“We’ll make the movement of freight along this crucial corridor safer and more productive and provide more than 150 construction jobs.