Coronavirus Gold Coast: Border opening date clarity demanded by business bosses

The state’s top doctor says the controversial border wall - crippling the Gold Coast economy - can come down before July 10 but business leaders say operators need certainty.

QUEENSLAND’S top doctor says the controversial border wall - crippling the Gold Coast economy - can come down before July 10 but business leaders say operators need certainty to talk to lenders.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young yesterday suggested the date for removing the border block could be brought forward after Queensland recorded no new positive tests.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young. Picture: David Clark

But business and political leaders say they are unimpressed with “mixed messaging” for desperate business operators and are calling for certainty so owners can enter talks with lenders and suppliers.

The hope for an earlier reopening comes after the State Government and Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated on Friday that July 10 was the likely date to ending Queensland’s border block. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk refused to discuss it, her office instead responding to Bulletin queries on Friday with a screen shot of her restrictions roadmap signifying interstate travel being possible by July 10.

A Queensland police officer moves a stop sign at a vehicle checkpoint on the Pacific Highway on the Queensland - New South Wales border (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said yesterday it was critical to give businesses clarity and time to prepare: “We need a definitive date. It is time to get serious.

“We’ve towed the line but need a clear, unchanging date so we can go back to our lenders and suppliers and start planning for doing business again.”

Mr Morrison on Friday announced borders would reopen and jumped the gun by thanking Queensland’s Government for agreeing to do so.

Ms Palaszczuk had originally announced July 10 as the date for interstate travel, but caused widespread panic almost a month ago when September was spruiked as “more realistic”. She has failed to provide certainty on a reopening, other than repeating it would be reviewed at the end of the month.

The borders will remain closed until July 10. Photo: Scott Powick

Gold Coast LNP MP and tourism spokesman David Crisafulli said: “Every day there is a delay in firming up the day costs money.

“It costs accommodation providers, cleaners, a restaurant worker the ability to wait a table and it makes it more likely another business will be unable to get back on its feet.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles wanted borders open as soon as possible but as safely as possible.

Dr Young said “unless of course something was very different either way”, July 10 stood: “If things were a lot better, we could bring that date forward.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles. Picture: David Clark

“Or if something were to happen interstate, I’m sure everyone would expect that we then push that date out.”

Asked if borders could reopen before July 10 if active cases remained very low, Dr Young said: “It depends. It’s really what happens at the end of June as to what will happen then for that stage of the road map. At the end of this month we will review all of that epidemiology, not only ours here in Queensland but from across the country to make those decisions around our borders.

Dr Young said there were ongoing levels of community transfer in southern states but she indicated small levels were no longer an absolute impediment to the border reopening.

The Bulletin yesterday asked Ms Palaszczuk if she would confirm July 10 as the border reopening date, if an earlier opening was being considered and what sort of notice she planned to give the city and its operators. Her office responded the questions had largely been answered by Mr Miles and Dr Young.