Coronavirus NSW: QLD border open, Berejiklian, Palaszczuk still sparring

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has hit back at her Queensland counterpart made another sledge towards the NSW Premier on borders.

The NSW Premier has hit back at her Queensland counterpart’s sassy morning television comments, saying she “doesn’t care”, and that at the end of the day she “got what she wanted”.

After months of pressure from Gladys Berejiklian, Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday announced her state would once again welcome millions of Greater Sydney residents.

It comes after a rift between the two leaders that dominated headlines and captivated Twitter culminated in a “friendly catch up” on Tuesday.

Neither apologised during the conversation, instead Annastacia Palaszczuk laughed and told Nine on Wednesday morning Ms Berejiklian’s behaviour had been “expected”.

“Gladys is just being Gladys. I expect that. I have always handled myself with dignity and I will always put my state first and she will always look after her state. That is the way it is,” she said.

QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Peter Wallis

Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams

When confronted with her counterpart’s comments live on Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa show, Ms Berejiklian hit back with “that’s okay, I don’t care”.

Ms Palaszczuk revealed on Wednesday she relied on her family for support after receiving death threats over her controversial border closures.

“There was a moment there when all my family came over and we sat down and thought, you know, is this all worth it?” she said.

“Look, at the end of the day the people of this state give me my inspiration and my strength and I kept going for them. I was flooded with letters and phone calls and emails. Honestly drawings from young kids. It really touched me.”

Queensland will open its borders to Victoria with confirmation on the change coming just a day after Sydney residents were given the green light to travel north from December 1.

Ms Palaszczuk announced the reopening on breakfast television on Wednesday morning after being told Victoria had again recorded no new cases.

The sunshine state will assess South Australia’s COVID situation “at the end of the month” before reopening to Adelaide residents.

“It’s absolutely wonderful news, congratulations to Daniel Andrews and his team down there, and all to the Victorians,” she told Seven.

“We look forward to welcoming you to Queensland. Please stop by and say hello if you see me out and about doing the holidays, it will be wonderful for our economy.”

NO NEW LOCAL CASES IN NSW

NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to Wednesday 8pm. Four returned travellers were diagnosed with the virus in hotel quarantine.

Health experts have reiterated the call for more people to come forward for testing after COVID-19 remnants was found in a Liverpool sewerage plant.

Anyone in the area should be tested and immediately isolate if they develop symptoms.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said it could have serious consequences if an active case is not identified.

“We need to recognise that one case, one case of COVID could cause a complete disaster and turn upside down all the good work we have done,” he said.

CRACKDOWN ON DODGY HAND SANITISER

New rules will force hand sanitiser manufacturers to print the alcohol content on every label to help people avoid dodgy products too weak to kill the COVID-19 virus.

Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar has signed off on a new information standard mandating hand sanitiser companies include the safety information on every product, following a recommendation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Hand sanitiser must have at least 60 per cent alcohol to kill COVID-19 germs. Picture: Ben Stansall/AFP

Australian consumers have been warned to only purchase sanitisers with at least 60 to 80 per cent alcohol, depending on the type.

Mr Sukkar told The Daily Telegraph the new labelling laws would give Australians “full confidence” they’re buying a product that works.

“The Morrison Government expects suppliers to provide safe and effective hand sanitiser products, in appropriate packaging, with relevant warnings at all times,” he said.

The ACCC is currently investigating allegations some suppliers have made false or misleading claims about alcohol content during the pandemic.

Consumer advocate group Choice has been testing hand sanitisers throughout the pandemic, finding several brands that came in well below the threshold.

Hand sanitiser manufacturers must comply with new labelling laws. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jenny Evans

This month Choice revealed White Knight Hand Sanitiser 500ml had only 52 per cent alcohol, despite claiming it had 75 per cent.

The product has since been pulled from shelves by the suppliers as it conducted urgent testing.

Choice found beyond the “simple failure” to meet alcohol levels needed for a hand sanitiser to be effective, there were also problems with the way the information was provided on labels as some brands mixed weight and volume.

“This can make it difficult to know whether a product meets the recommended concentration of alcohol,” a Choice statement said.

As the coronavirus pandemic took over hundreds of businesses switched to manufacturing hand sanitiser, with the marketing and sales of some products described by Choice as “especially troubling”.

“Price gouging on essential items and panic marketing is bad behaviour,” Choice said.

“Selling products that promise to protect you against a deadly virus when they won’t is far worse.”

In another shocking Australian example, women’s clothing retailer Mosaic Brands put out a hand sanitiser Choice found had just 27 per cent alcohol.