Gold Coast chambers of commerce reeling after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s revelation border to close to NSW and ACT

Business leaders on the Gold Coast have been blindsided by the shock announcement Queensland borders will close to NSW and the ACT from Saturday.

GOLD Coast businesses already wounded and struggling to survive have been blindsided by the shock revelation Queensland will completely close its border to NSW and ACT.

Leaders of chambers of commerce in the city appeared downcast and said today’s surprise announcement by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk came out of the blue.

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has declared all of NSW and the ACT hot spots. The border will close to the new hot spots from 1am on Saturday.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall. Picture: Chris Higgins

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said the closure was “the worst possible outcome for the economy, the worst thing that could happen from an economic perspective”.

“We’re wounded and we’re not yet recovered,” he said.

“I know a lot of businesses have started to plan for the new normal, but it’s certainly going to be hurting the domestic tourism market even more so.”

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“It’s potentially crippling for businesses. They’ve been on their knees, not on their feet. This is another blow.

“In the face of this shock announcement, we need to start reviewing future easing of restrictions for Queenslanders in Queensland, so we can have a fighting chance while continuing to trade.”

Mr Hall said he understood the State Government was “balancing our economy while trying to save the health of the state”.

“For sure, the Premier has stuck to her promises and hasn’t hesitated to slam those borders shut. Hopefully it’s short-lived,” he said.

“Given the isolated incidents in Logan and the containment that happened successfully it seems … we were hopeful it (the coronavirus situation) would be dealt with in an ongoing manner like that, rather than shutting the borders.”

Police patrolling the Qld-NSW border at Coolangatta. Picture: Adam Head

Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce president Hilary Jacobs and Mr Hall both felt the closure was a particularly devastating blow for many of the city’s businesses.

Ms Jacobs said businesses need to know “days in advance” how exemptions for border communities would be implemented.

“It’s very disappointing that a very few people who are selfishly breaking the border restrictions are now going to mean that yet again the businesses of Queensland are going to be punished by not being able to welcome interstate visitors again,” she said.

“Surely we can find better ways to deter these people and better ways to ensure the systems put in place are working?

“The vision was always that Australia would have good track and trace system in place and COVID-19 infection numbers would be managed.”

Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce president Hilary Jacobs

Ms Jacobs said the new ban on visitors “are going to put some businesses so much closer to failure”.

“The business community will need more real help, not deferrals or loans, if more job losses are to be avoided and the long term damage to the Queensland economy is to be minimised the Queensland State Government will need to step up to the plate.”

Ms Jacobs forecast “a lot of confusion on the border yet again” and said punishing all of Queensland for individuals flouting restrictions was “beyond comprehension”.

It’s expected Victoria, already a declared hotspot, will record more than 700 new cases today.

NSW numbers have not been revealed yet, but 12 cases emerged yesterday.

Queensland recorded one new overnight - a a 68-year-old woman in the southeast West Moreton area.