NQ gets chance to show off as restrictions ease across Queensland
Touted as the first real step toward reopening businesses, the easing of restrictions will give businesses a much-needed lifeline.
Townsville
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TOWNSVILLE’S tourism industry could boom under the State Government’s latest decision to ease restrictions and open up travel within Queensland.
After more than 50 days without a new coronavirus case, North Queensland could be a pristine playground for people looking to get away for the school holidays.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement yesterday, bringing forward and updating stage two restrictions.
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North Queensland businesses have been haemorrhaging money due to strict travel and social distancing restrictions, and will now have a chance to bounce back.
From today, Queenslanders will be able to move freely within the state and restaurants will be able to have 20 customers in each defined area.
This comes just days after Townsville Enterprise, with the help of Mackay, Cairns, Whitsunday and Outback tourism advocates, put forward a ‘travel bubble’ plan to the State Government to help breathe life back into the region’s economy.
The Premier encouraged Queenslanders to explore their backyard, including Townsville, and take advantage of what the state had to offer during the school holidays.
Townsville Enterprise CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said the announcement would help support 37,400 jobs in North Queensland that relied on the tourism and hospitality industries.
“The Queensland Government and the Chief Health Officer Dr Janette Young have struck a good balance between ensuring Queensland’s safety during the pandemic and now providing Queenslanders the opportunity to travel within the state,” she said.
“The Premier was prepared to listen to regional Queensland and she has shown with this decision that she understands the challenges faced by our business community, but also the opportunity to boost business and jobs, especially in time for the upcoming school holidays.”
Townsville MP Scott Stewart said the announcement followed mounting pressure on his southeast colleagues.
“It all started last Friday when Townsville Enterprise Limited contacted me and said they had partnered with Cairns and Mackay with a proposal,” Mr Scott said.
“That’s when it really ramped up and it’s been a long week of discussions to get this over the line (and) you guys (Townsville Bulletin) have really played a role in this too.
“I just got in and rang as many people from the Premier’s Department and the Premier.”
Mr Stewart said he fought hard to counter public health concerns while advocating for his region.
“(They debated) with me was that you’ve got active cases in Cairns but I rejected that with the denser population and ability to travel in the southeast so that’s just a null and void argument,” he said.
“Two hundred and fifty kilometres in the southeast corner gets you absolutely everywhere you want to go but when you get outside of that and particularly North Queensland it doesn’t get you to the next major city.”
Last week, Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper rejected a potential North Queensland travel bubble and suggested the state needed to closely follow the road map to easing restrictions.
But this week, the MP had changed his tune and was celebrating the decision.
Originally published as NQ gets chance to show off as restrictions ease across Queensland