LNP Queensland leader David Crisafulli labels claims he refused to reveal LNP official stance on Gold Coast border closure ‘ridiculous’

Labor has launched a stinging attack on Opposition leader David Crisafulli, accusing him of not explaining the LNP position on the border shutdown – but he’s labelled it “ridiculous”. SEE THE VIDEO

OPPOSITION leader David Crisafulli is again under fire after claims he would not explain the LNP’s position on the question of when to open up the Queensland-NSW border.

But he has since labelled the accusation “ridiculous”.

During a Sky News First Edition interview on Thursday, the Broadwater MP was asked a direct question about whether he would open up the borders given growing Covid case numbers.

In an edited version of the interview shared by Treasurer Cameron Dick on Friday he said: “I’m not talking about throwing caution to the wind, and I’m not talking about walking away from health advice.

Mr Crisafulli was asked again — as leader of “Queensland’s alternative government” — if he would open up the NSW border to Queensland given thousands of new Covid cases each day.

“No, I’m confident about telling people to give vaccinated,” he said.

Pushed for an answer, Mr Crisafulli responded that he supported reaching higher vaccination targets of 80 per cent in communities before the opening up of borders.

“Until we reach those targets it’s all moot point,” Mr Crisafulli said.

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Queensland Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli speaks during Question Time at Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Treasurer Cameron Dick was quick to respond on Twitter, tweeting the Opposition leader had given a “masterclass in making a simple question complex”.

He told the Bulletin: “David Crisafulli repeatedly refuses to answer this very simple question because he doesn’t want Queenslanders to know that he is against our border control measures.

“Every time he complains about our strong measures to protect the health of Queenslanders, it’s code.

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Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick speaks during Question Time at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“He’s telling the cranks who want to throw open our borders and let the virus rip that he’s on their side.

“David Crisafulli’s reckless ideology would put the health and livelihoods of millions of Queenslanders in grave jeopardy.”

But Mr Crisafulli fired back, labelling the accusations “ridiculous”.

“My plan for our border communities is more targeted support for businesses that are on their knees, the establishment of a Queensland Cross-Border Commissioner, and mass vaccination and drive-through hubs to boost our sluggish vaccine rollout,” he said.

“As for this nonsense about freely opening up, it is a ridiculous suggestion given our vaccination rate is so low in Queensland due to the mixed messages and poor rollout.

“If the state government was focused on a clear message and a plan to boost vaccine delivery instead of political scaremongering, they might have been able to share their plan as to how Queensland will make its way out of the pandemic.

“Right now we need hope over fear and confidence over chaos. Unfortunately we are not seeing that from this government.”

Mr Crisafulli was previously grilled on the border shutdown by Tweed Shire Council’s James Owen in June.

At the time he refused to rule out further border closures if he was elected.

“I’m not going to embark on a process of undermining health advice,” he told a packed room of more than 100 Gold Coast city leaders.

“But (if elected) the advice is going to be made public, so people can see it and it will be in good faith.”

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