Premier: People across Queensland do not want the borders opened

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has made a stunning claim about the border closure despite howls of protest from Gold Coast businesses.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has claimed most Queenslanders fear a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and “do not want the borders opened”.

The Premier made her remark during Question Time in State Parliament today, during which the LNP focused on the Queensland-NSW border closure and its costs to businesses.

A border checkpoint on Griffith Street in Coolangatta. Photo: Scott Powick.

A Bulletin report has revealed new tourism research shows the Glitter Strip will lose more than $1.2 billion in interstate tourism revenue in the next three months unless the border is opened up.

“I will not put Queenslanders health at risk. There are active cases in New South Wales and Victoria,” Ms Palaszczuk told the Opposition.

“We want to see NSW and Victoria get on top of their community transmission. Of course we recognise that businesses are doing it tough.

“But they would be doing it even tougher if there was an outbreak of community transmission in Queensland.

“In fact, when we first encountered community transmission in Queensland, we were very concerned about the Gold Coast and we were very concerned about Cairns.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is seen during Question Time at Parliament House. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

BORDER UNCERTAINTY ‘CHOKING SMALL BUSINESS’

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington asked about the government’s lack of economic modelling on the border closure and accused Ms Palaszczuk of “flying blind in the biggest economic crisis in Queensland’s history”.

“I have travelled across regional Queensland over the past two weeks and let me tell you, they don’t want their families to get COVID and they don’t want to be sick,” the Premier said.

Ms Palaszczuk said Ms Frecklington should speak to Queenslanders rather than focus on her own leadership troubles.

“Because people across Queensland do not want the borders opened and risk of all of our great health response,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“We have put in place a very clear road map. The Prime Minister has said July. Our road map says July. And we’re gearing up to that. But we are doing very clearly is we will assess it at the end of the month,” she said.

Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington during Question Time at Parliament House. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

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Treasurer Cameron Dick, when asked about the bill taxpayers were footing in the High Court to defend the borders being closed, said he made no apology about fighting a legal challenge “to keep Queensland protected”.

“Just like the Premier I travelled through regional Queensland last week – Cairns, Townsville, Bowen, Mackay, Moranbah. I can tell you what they were talking about, they were talking about keeping Queensland safe. Making sure we did everything we could to save Queensland lives and protect Queensland business. And we make no apology for that,” he said.

Outside the Parliament, Opposition tourism spokesman David Crisafulli told The Bulletin: “We can’t keep smashing people’s hopes for recovery time and time again.

“After finally getting a commitment to return to her July border reopening road map, the Premier’s statement will snuff out the light at the end of the tunnel.

“The indecision and thought bubble policy must stop. Ensuring we keep safe doesn’t mean indefinitely preventing any kind of economic recovery.”

On Twitter, Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said the Premier had indicated “the border won’t open until there is “no active transmission”.

“When is it to be, July, September, later,” he tweeted.