QLD-NSW border zone reinstated, QLD lockdown ends

People in southeast Queensland will come out of lockdown at 4pm on Sunday, bringing some benefits for residents in Northern NSW.

Queensland’s hard border closure to NSW has come to an end, with the reinstatement of the border zone. Mike Batterham

Update, Monday, 9am: The NSW Government last night revoked the Covid-19 concerns notice for Queensland (except Cairns and Yarrabah).

This means the 14-day stay at home order has been lifted for people returning to NSW.

Queensland border passes and NSW Entry Declaration Passes are still required.

Initial story: Northern NSW residents who are following stay at home orders after being in Queensland must continue to do so, even though Queensland’s lockdown will end at 4pm on Sunday.

The NSW public health order, which came into effect on July 31, states anyone who has been in Queensland since July 21, should stay at home until the order is revoked or until 14 days has passed since they were last in an affected area.

“Anyone arriving in NSW must complete a declaration and then travel directly to their accommodation and only leave with a reasonable excuse,” the order states.

“A person must comply with the stay at home rules for 14 days since they were last in an affected LGA, or until the notice is revoked.”

The affected LGAs are: Brisbane City, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City, Noosa Shire Council, Redland City, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council, and Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Meanwhile, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced southeast Queensland’s lockdown would end at 4pm on Sunday, but Cairns will go into a snap three-day lockdown.

The Queensland government has reinstated the NSW “border zone”, effective from 1am on Sunday.

This means Queensland residents and NSW border zone residents can only cross the border to:

● Get food or other goods or services for the personal needs of the household or other household purposes, including for pets, and for vulnerable persons if there aren’t suitable shops locally

● Access medical or health care or get medical supplies if they would normally cross the border to do so

● Get a Covid-19 vaccine if that is where they would usually go

● Get a Covid-19 test if that is the closest site

● Work

● Volunteer

● Provide assistance, care or support to a family member or to fulfil other caring responsibilities whether paid or unpaid

● Attend any court or tribunal of Australia or to comply with or give effect to orders of the court or tribunal of Australia

● Attend a childcare facility, school, university, or other educational institution

● Attend organised sport they would usually attend (this includes a sporting activity organised by a community club, religious organisation, school or educational institution)

● Assist with or participate in an investigation or other action by a law enforcement authority

comply with or give effect to the exercise of a power or function of a government agency or entity under a law

● To continue existing arrangements for contact between, parents, children and siblings who don’t live together

● Move house

● Avoid injury or illness

● Escape a risk of harm

● Escape an emergency situation.

You can stay overnight as needed for one of the above reasons.

Border zone residents and Queensland residents cannot cross the border for:

● A wedding or funeral unless they have an approved exemption which will include additional requirements

● Exercise unless organised team sport that they would usually attend

● Recreational purposes, including but not limited to: visit friends or family other than to provide care, assistance or support, holiday, be a spectator at a professional sporting event, attend the cinema, go to a theme park or other tourist experiences.

For more information, visit the Queensland Government website.