Queensland tightens definition of what is an essential worker to exclude teachers, childcare workers, some tradies and hospitality workers

Queensland Health has tightened its definition of what an essential worker who can cross the border is, but it’s meant a large number of workers will no longer be able to cross. FULL LIST.

Queensland Health have tightened the definition of who is an essential worker. Picture: Liana Walker

Friday 8.50am: Cross border commissioner James McTavish said he was in negotiations with relevant state officials over essential worker definition changes.

“Teachers and child care workers are not considered to be essential workers,” he said.

“I have been speaking to the (NSW) Department of Education today.

“This will impact on some teaching staff.

“But I want to stress critical essential workers including emergency services volunteers such as VRA, SES folk can still get to work and people can still cross the border to still get medical treatment.”

Update 3.15pm: Tweed MP Geoff Provest said the Queensland Government is just hurting itself by taking teachers off the list of essential workers with Year 12 exams upcoming.

Mr Provest clarified the essential worker definitions, saying they had been tightened for people in, or who have visited, Walgett Shire, Bourke Shire, Brewarrina Shire, Ballina Shire, Byron Shire, City of Lismore or Richmond Valley Council Local Government Areas.

The Tweed Shire was not on this list, however those who have visited the above areas are included in the tightened definition of restricted workers.

“I find it quite amazing the Queensland Government or the Premier would make that decision (to exclude teachers),” Mr Provest said.

“She’s actually hurting her own Queensland people as well.”

The Queensland Government has tightened their definition of an essential worker. Pictured roadblock on Dixon Street. Picture: Liana Walker

The move means a teacher who lives in Coolangatta who works in a Byron or Ballina school would not be permitted to cross or a teacher who lives in Tweed, works on the Gold Coast but visited Lismore on the weekend would also not be allowed to cross.

He said he was not involved in any conferences regarding border decisions.

Richmond MP Justine Elliot said she was disappointed but understands the Queensland decision to classify teachers and childcare workers as being off the essential workers list.

“If Queensland goes down this avenue it is only because they are limiting the amount of people going across the border,” she said.

“I share the confusion and anger the community is feeling.”

Original story: Teachers, childcare workers and some construction workers will no longer be able cross the Queensland border to go to work following an tightened definition of what is an “essential worker.”

At a press conference on Thursday morning Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she and deputy premier Steven Miles would have a conference call with mayors at border communities to discuss the tight border measures, and urged QLDers to avoid all travel into NSW.

The tightened definition of what an essential worker is includes medical practitioners, freight and logistics workers, emergency service workers and critical infrastructure workers among others.

However specifically listed as not essential workers are teachers, childcare workers, hospitality worker, sales representatives and commercial construction workers.

Tweed Shire Council mayor Chris Cherry said she welcomed the tightened definitions because it enabled the border zone to still be recognised.

“I’m incredibly concerned we could go to a hard border situation whereby that border bubble isn’t operating,” Ms Cherry said.