Stopping essential workers entering Qld ‘puts lives at risk’: Tweed MP

There are claims that essential workers, including medical professionals, are being denied entry to Queensland, “putting lives at risk”.

Police and Emergency services check cars and people crossing the Queensland/NSW border during the harsh border closure due to the Covid-19 outbreak in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

A Tweed MP has called border restrictions “arbitrary” amid news NSW essential workers are being turned away from the Queensland border.

Tweed MP Geoff Provest says claims by the Queensland Government that they are “doing all (they) can to ease the Tweed border situation” was a statement “economical with the truth”.

The MP believes the region’s Covid-19 statistics justify a return to the border zone system.

“Stopping essential workers, including medical professionals, from crossing the border doesn’t save any lives it puts lives at risk,” he said.

Mr Provest stressed said the Tweed Shire had no active cases and a greater proportion of people vaccinated.

“The stats show an immediate return to the border zone system we had in place until recently is the healthiest option for both communities,” he said.

“Queensland knows full well its proposal to move the checkpoints across the Tweed River is not possible in the short term, it is just using this fantasy to distract people from the dire problems of its own making.”

It comes as Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles told press 2715 vehicles had been intercepted at the NSW/Queensland border up to 4pm on Saturday due to the “stricter ever” border crossings.

“142 of those were turned away, 12 of those were essential workers who would have been admitted if they would have been vaccinated,” he said during a Sunday press event.

“Even essential workers aren't guaranteed an exemption across, they have to have had at least one vaccination.”

Police at the Queensland and New South Wales border checkpoint. This vehicle got turned around back into NSW at the Gold Coast Hwy checkpoint. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

He shut down those who questioned the reasoning of the “narrow” measures.

Being permitted to cross the border when we have the strictest borders in place is a privilege,” Mr Miles said.

“And I think anyone who expected to be able to access that privilege should be able to get vaccinated – it’s not too much to ask.”

Mr Miles also slammed Sunday border protests as “shameful and reckless”.

“I’ve been to a lot of protests, I’ve organised a lot of protests, I love a good protest, but now is not the time for protests, particularly on the border,” he said.

“The border is our riskiest place right now. We have to see the situation in NSW the same way we’ve seen the situation in other countries throughout this pandemic.

“By having a protest there … they put the safety of our police at risk, they put their own safety at risk and they put the safety of the community at risk.

“I’m frankly pretty disgusted.”

Covid-19 lockdowns hit Lismore businesses along Molesworth St. Credit: Tessa Flemming

NSW recorded 830 new cases overnight on Sunday.

There are no new recorded cases in the Northern Rivers region or any new sewage results.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Sunday almost 58 per cent of NSW residents have had dose one of the vaccine, making it “one of the fastest in the world”.