Covid Qld: State, federal ministers fail to communicate on PCR tests

As confusion over testing costs gripped travellers in and out of Queensland, the Premier and health minister failed to pick up the phone to clear up confusion. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Health ministers Greg Hunt and Yvette D’Ath failed to pick up the phone and clear confusion over Covid-19 tests despite fears families could be slugged hundreds of dollars each to enter Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also revealed she had not phoned Mr Hunt.

Queensland authorities are standing firm on travellers requiring a negative Covid-19 test before entering the state, despite the rule only likely to be in place for one month.

People travelling into Queensland from December 17 will require a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours before entering.

When rates reach 90 per cent, expected in early January, no test will be required.

The test requirement from December remains despite a week of mixed messaging and widespread confusion over the cost of the test.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the negative test was vital to “throttling the rate of seeding between the 80 and 90 per cent mark”.

“The tests that we have in place are an important part of our protective mechanism, and these arrangements that we’ve put in place are important to keep Queenslanders safe, and we’ll keep them there,” he said.

Mr Miles was also forced yesterday to defend the Government’s lack of clarification about the cost of the Covid-19 test for people to enter the state – insisting an “orchestrated campaign” from Canberra politicians was to blame for the confusion.

“It wasn’t us saying it would cost people, we were asked whether people needed tests,” he said.

“Just yesterday, Greg Hunt said that we should drop the requirement for the PCR test, but by yesterday afternoon he was clarifying that PCR tests would be free.

“We welcome that confirmation, it is good news, we just wish it had come sooner.”

However, Ms Palaszczuk and Ms D’Ath this week repeatedly defended the cost of the test despite fears families would have to pay about $150 per person before travelling.

Ms Palaszczuk accused the Commonwealth of wanting Queenslanders to contract Covid-19 for Christmas, claiming it had wanted to scrap the PCR test, while also calling for the politics to stop.

Responding to news that the cost of a pathology test would only be charged when the person needs an official certificate, the Premier said she was delighted the issue had been sorted out.

But she accused the Commonwealth of singling Queensland out and claimed the issue was about the looming federal election.

“Why did the federal government want Queenslanders to get Covid for Christmas, they wanted to scrap the PCR test,” she said.

While calling for the politics to stop, the Premier said it was important Queensland and the commonwealth worked cooperatively.

Asked whether she had rung Mr Hunt to discuss the test, the Premier said: “I don’t pick up the phone to the federal health minister, I’m happy to pick up the phone to (Prime Minister) Scott Morrison.

“I have a health minister that can deal with the federal health minister.”