Mackay, Whitsunday, Cairns among critical tourism areas at risk of low-vax lockdowns
The Premier has singled out the regions that may not be able to reopen if they continue to lag with vaccination rates, publicly calling out MP George Christensen for “hindering” regional areas from getting the jab. WILL YOU GET THE JAB TO REOPEN? VOTE IN OUR POLL
Mackay
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Mackay and Whitsundays have been given an ultimatum: lift its lagging vaccination rates or face being locked out of a newly reopened country.
And Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said Dawson MP George Christensen is anti-vaccination, publicly calling him out for what she says is “hindering” regional areas from getting the jab.
Mr Christensen, in reply, hit out at Ms Palaszczuk and those that “broadcast her patently false comment today that I have been ‘demanding people not get vaccinated”.
Ms Palaszczuk said the vaccination rates were not the metro areas such a Brisbane, but the outer city and regions that were consistently low performers in the race to fully vaccinate.
“It’s as soon as you get to places like Logan, Ipswich, the Scenic Rim, Central Queensland, Mt Isa, Cape communities, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Whitsunday,” she said.
“And what’s been hindering some of this progress has been the likes of George Christensen demanding people not get vaccinated.
“Vaccination is the key, vaccinations save lives.”
Mr Christensen has been contacted for comment.
With the higher vaccinated areas set to celebrate and capitalise on opened borders and a travel-starved population, Ms Palaszczuk said the Gold Coast, Cairns, Mackay and the Whitsundays markets were at risk of missing out.
And lockdowns would be an ever-present threat until jab rates neared the crucial 70 per cent rate.
“They need to lift their vaccination rates if you want tourism to come into those regions,” she said.
“It is absolutely imperative.
“We will see people end up in hospital but we can prevent and minimise the risk by people getting vaccinated.
“If we have an outbreak, for example, it could be in Central Queensland, they may have to go into a lockdown then they will be on restrictions and there will be no federal government support.”
Ms Palaszczuk said interstate travel would be allowed for fully vaccinated visitors arriving by air provided they home quarantine for 14 days from November 17 or earlier if 70 per cent of Queenslanders achieved full vaccination.
From December 17 or earlier if 80 per cent of Queenslanders achieve vaccination — interstate travellers who are fully vaccinated can come to Queensland by air, sea or land without the need for quarantine.
Both requirements will also need evidence of a negative Covid test taken in the previous 72 hours.
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