Coronavirus Qld: Katter’s latest plan for north to break away
Katter’s Australian Party is again calling for north Queensland to break away from the rest of the state. But this time it’s due to our clear and present danger. VOTE IN OUR POLL
QLD Politics
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Katter’s Australian Party has demanded a contingency plan to protect north Queensland from possible future outbreaks of COVID-19 be developed by the end of the week.
KAP state leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said more needed to be done to limit a potential spread of the virus, calling for regional quarantine zones to be identified ahead of time.
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“We are all navigating through some very uncertain times right now, and we understand it’s going to be tough across the board,” he said.
“However we cannot stress enough how important it is that protections be put in place across the state, and particularly in the north, should the worst occur in the southeast corner.
“Queensland is too diverse and broad for one set of rules – if Brisbane suffers an outbreak, we will expect swift action from the Premier (Annastacia Palaszczuk) to protect our communities up here and enable them to continue to function normally unless local outbreaks also occur.”
Under regional quarantine, travel would be banned between different areas unless deemed absolutely necessary.
KAP Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto said it was imperative the Government had a contingency plan for a northern border and a trigger point to implement it.
“The Government needs to be prepared, and I call on Premier Palaszczuk to work with the KAP so we have an effective strategy in place,” he said.
Mr Dametto warned local businesses would not survive another shutdown.
Meanwhile Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has defended the LNP’s border position after she copped a flurry of criticism from Labor this week.
“We’ve been very consistent with our messaging, and that is that you must follow the health advice,” she said.
“Now the situation has changed quite dramatically, and you look at what is going on in Victoria and now in New South Wales, and as the situation changes in other states so must the response in Queensland.”
Ms Frecklington said Queenslanders needed their leaders to follow the health advice.
