PM hits out at state borders, confident Victoria block off ‘protects’ rest of us

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has again hit out at state-imposed border blockades, confident a strict lockdown and border blocks for coronavirus-stricken Victoria safeguard the rest of the country.

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has again hit out at state-imposed border blockades, confident a strict lockdown and border blocks for coronavirus-stricken Victoria safeguard the rest of the country.

Victoria recorded 134 new infections on Wednesday as five million residents entered stage three lockdown restrictions for six weeks from midnight, a day after its border with New South Wales closed for the first time in 100 years.

Mr Morrison renewed calls to axe controversial border restrictions elsewhere, including trouble-plagued Tweed-Coolangatta, as Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski revealed 709 people had been turned away at Queensland borders since last Friday.

Mr Gollschewski warned of significant congestion at the border which reopens this Friday to everyone except those from Victoria. He added 209,000 had already filled out new border pass paperwork necessary to cross checkpoints.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison again hit out at state-imposed border blockades. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Taylor

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“It shows a lot of people plan on travelling to Queensland, so everyone will need to be patient trying to come through,” he told 4BC.

On top of the 709 who did a U-turn, 12 were placed into a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Mr Gollschewski said police had also met 17 flights from Victoria, with a further 33 people refused entry and 63 required to go into quarantine.

Those breaching border restrictions face an on-the-spot fine of $1334 or a court-imposed penalty of up to $13,345.

Mr Gollschewski said the ultimate aim was to keep the virus out of Queensland.

“If we don’t get this right the consequence for us is we could have the virus re-emerge in this state – we’ve seen in Victoria how quickly that can change,” he said.

Mr Morrison: “Victoria has self-isolated, so that creates a protection for all the other states at the one time and it doesn’t leave it to the arbitrary decision of one Premier.

“When you have an outbreak, you contain the outbreak. That outbreak is presently in Melbourne. To ensure we don’t get further breaches, that outbreak is being contained now at the Victorian border.

“We’ll continue to maintain our position – that Australia is one country and the response needed in relation to outbreaks will be put in place, and will provide the appropriate protections,” Mr Morrison said.

Deputy Police commissioner Steve Gollschewski revealed 709 people had been turned away at Queensland borders since last Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jono Searle

Hundreds turned back in border traffic surge

“That’s what’s being done. This is about Victoria isolating itself, not other states … there’s a key difference in that.”

Mr Morrison said the nation was being “tested” and “there’s no guarantees” in a pandemic: “You have to deal with situations in front of you.”

Mr Morrison’s comments follow NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s condemnation of Queensland checkpoints. She believes the restrictions are unnecessary after her state shut-out Victorians 1300km south of Coast’s border line.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has waved off criticism of her border blockade, estimated to cost 1000 jobs and $147m a week.

She said anticipated delays when the border reopens on Friday with road patrols remaining would be because the state must “get it right”.

“This is a national issue, so we all need to be in this together,” she said.

Queensland recorded one new COVID-19 case on Tuesday, it’s first in 11 days. It has two active cases including one on the Gold Coast. Victoria had 191 new cases Tuesday, 127 on Monday and 182 at the weekend.

The surge is linked to Melbourne quarantine hotels employing private security contractors alleged to have had minimal training, slept on the job and socialised with guests. It is subject to a Judicial Inquiry