Coronavirus Gold Coast: Six key questions for Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington has tonight demanded that six questions posed by The Bulletin to the Chief Health Officer are finally answered.

LNP leader Deb Frecklington has demanded that six questions posed by the Gold Coast Bulletin to Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young are answered.

Ms Frecklington said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk should “show some leadership” and demand answers are provided to the questions, which concerned the border closure, easing of social restrictions and community sport.

A spokesperson for Queensland Health had earlier issued a short statement in response to the questions and invited the Bulletin to watch replays of press conferences on the Premier’s Facebook page for further information.

“The people of the Gold Coast deserve answers and to be treated like adults by the Palaszczuk Labor government,” Ms Frecklington said.

“These are legitimate questions which should be answered.

“People on the Gold Coast have made huge sacrifices and it is time the Palaszczuk Labor Government recognised that.

“The Premier’s decision to keep the border closed until at least September is costing jobs and closing businesses and the Bulletin’s legitimate questions should have been answered.”

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington visits Costa D'Oro Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in Surfers Paradise on Tuesday. Picture: Facebook/Deb Frecklington

The questions posed by the Bulletin were as follows:

1. Why are you advising Queensland to move so slowly to lift restriction restrictions when states with worse COVID-19 records are easing restrictions far quicker? For example, from next week NSW will allow 50 people in restaurants and clubs and from June 12 Queensland will only allow 20.

2. What is the health data/projections you are basing this decision on?

3. In regards to intrastate travel, NSW can move freely from June 1. Queenslanders cannot. Why not?

4. In regards to community sport, only one parent will be allowed to watch their children compete. Grandparents who will miss out on seeing kids play sport. How do you explain that threshold given families can visit Bunnings or shopping centres alongside potentially hundreds of others?

5. Originally the ‘road map’ out Queensland was working towards July 10 for interstate travel. Last week both you and the Premier said a more “realistic” date was September. Where did that come from?

6. At what point do you, as the state’s top health professional, consider the economic and mental health costs of strict border and social restrictions?

Chief Medical officer Jeannette Young and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture AAP.

In response to the questions, a Queensland Health spokesperson invited the Bulletin to watch replays of press conferences which are “available to view anytime on the Premier’s Facebook page.”

“Our priority will always be keeping Queenslanders safe and healthy,” the spokesperson said.

“There is a roadmap in place to lift restrictions in stages, however moving through each stage will require all Queenslanders to be patient and comply with directions so we don’t undo the great work achieved to date.

“The Federal Government has released modelling about what the progression of the virus may look like in Australia. That modelling was considered when the roadmap to easing restrictions was developed.

“It must be remembered that if there is a spike in cases, restrictions may be reinstated. We cannot risk a second wave of infection or uncontrolled community spread of COVID-19.”

A police officer stopping cars at the border in Coolangatta. Picture: AAP.

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The lack of clarity is causing growing anger in the southern Gold Coast, with Burleigh MP Michael Hart saying people are “very annoyed” the border remains closed.

“Caravan parks are empty, accommodation facilities are not up to the usual level of business that’s usually happening this time of year and the biggest concern is people don’t have a date when things might change,” he said.

“The medical professionals on a federal level and every other state seem to have a different opinion on whether the borders should be closed than the Premier up here.”

Ms Palaszczuk has strongly defended her stance, saying she doesn’t want a “second wave” of COVID-19 to hit Queensland.