Is it time to ditch the COVID honesty system?

The State Opposition says relying on travellers to be honest about where they’ve been is no longer working, after two young women with COVID-19 allegedly lied to authorities about where they’d been. VOTE IN THE POLL NOW

Authorities should not be relying on an honesty system to protect the health of Queenslanders, Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander says.

Two young Queensland women who tested positive for coronavirus travelled to Melbourne and Sydney and then allegedly lied to authorities about their whereabouts.

Women at centre of COVID outbreak charged

Police and Queensland Health have since confirmed that one of the women is also refusing to co-operate with authorities and will not confirm what venues she attended while she may have been contagious.

“It would seem that the system is broken down, when it comes to protecting the health and lives of Queenslanders we cannot rely on an honour system,” Mr Mander said.

“I think that we need to have more thorough examination of those declarations to make sure that we determine whether people are telling the truth or not.

Olivia Winnie Muranga is one of the women who allegedly lied to authorities about her travel.

“What has to happen is the police need to be given permission and also the time to do the checks that are required.”

A government spokesman said Mr Mander’s comments were “a bit rich” for an Opposition that had called for the borders to be opened at least 64 times when it was not safe to open them.

Mr Mander said most Queenslanders would accept longer delays at the border if “more thorough checks” were being made.

Diana Lasu is currently in hospital after contracting COVID-19 while travelling in Melbourne and Sydney.

“We just can’t rely on an honour system when it comes to protecting the lives and health of Queenslanders,” he said.

“We need to have the amount of time that’s necessary to authenticate the declarations that are made.”