Dominic Perrottet’s plan to get Queensland border open as soon as possible

Dominic Perrottet has pledged to call the Queensland Premier to discuss her tough border measures after her ‘testy’ relationship with his predecessor.

The NSW Premier has pledged to call his Queensland counterpart immediately to discuss the border arrangement between the two states.

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s tough border stance had caused friction between her and Gladys Berejiklian with ABC Breakfast host Lisa Millar describing it as “testy”.

“Have you heard from the Queensland Premier at all?,” she asked Mr Perrottet on Thursday.

“No, but I’ll give her a call today. It’s obviously been a busy couple of days here Lisa,” Mr Perrottet replied.

He was then asked what he planned to say to Ms Palaszczuk.

“I’ll say … ‘how you going?’ and ‘I want to have a great relationship with you’,” Mr Perrottet said.

The ABC host then asked him if he planned to discuss the border arrangement with the Queensland Premier.

Mr Perrottet said he wanted the border “opened as quickly as possible”.

Dominic Perrottet said he would call his Queensland counterpart on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“We’re Australians first and I’ve said that before. I’m not going to change my views in relation to that. But we can’t stay closed. We can’t be a hermit kingdom on the other side of the world,” he said.

“We want international borders open. NSW is going to lead the way there.

“We’re not a collection of penal colonies. We’ve moved on as a country, and I think the more we see ourselves as one Australia, the better.”

On Tuesday, the Queensland Premier was asked whether the border to NSW would open once both state’s had achieved the 80 per cent vaccination target.

She said it would not necessarily be the case.

“It depends on the situation of the day. It depends on what’s happening in NSW and Victoria,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been criticised by NSW for her tough border stance. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Meanwhile, speaking to The Today Show Mr Perrottet also claimed that none of the other state leaders had contacted him since he was handed the top job on Tuesday.

“Have you heard from Mark (McGowan), AKA ‘Gollum’, AKA ‘My Precious’ since you became leader?” host Karl Stefanovic asked.

The Premier said he hadn’t but that he would also “call him today”.

“He should be calling you, couldn't he?” the Today host queried.

He probed further: “Have you heard from Anna (Palaszczuk) or Dan (Andrews)?”

“No, I haven’t,” Mr Perrottet said.

“What?!,” Stefanovic quipped.

“It has been a busy two days. I'll give them a call. I’ll get their numbers,” the Premier replied.

Dominic Perrottet called Mark McGowan “Gollum” during a dispute about GST. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tony McDonough

“They can call you and congratulate you. This is part of the problem with Australia at the moment. No-one is picking up the phone at the moment,” Stefanovic said.

The breakfast show host also questioned the Premier about a fiery phone call that he allegedly had with the Prime Minister.

“He (Scott Morrison) called you all manner of things on conference calls. He called you a ‘something wit’ on one such call. Did he do that and is it true?” Stefanovic asked.

Mr Perrottet said it wasn’t true and they’re “private conversations” before laughing, prompting Stefanovic to make an assumption.

“That’s a yes,” he said.

Mr Perrottet was chosen as the NSW new Premier on Tuesday in a 39-5 landslide after Gladys Berejiklian resigned over an ICAC investigation.

Originally published as Dominic Perrottet’s plan to get Queensland border open as soon as possible