Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles uses Liam Neeson Taken meme to ward off travellers from coronavirus hot spots

“If you come to QLD from VIC or a NSW hot spot We WILL look for you We WILL find you And we WILL send you packing with a $4000 fine and possible jail time” (sic).

THE Deputy Premier has invoked a popular meme from hit film Taken to emphasise Queensland’s tough stand on any holiday-makers trying to come in from hot spots.

Posting a well-known image from the movie featuring Hollywood star Liam Neeson on the phone, Health Minister Steven Miles said: “If you come to QLD from VIC or a NSW hot spot We WILL look for you We WILL find you And we WILL send you packing with a $4000 fine and possible jail time” (sic).

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has used the popular Liam Neeson Taken meme to ward off travellers from coronavirus hot spots from entering the state. Picture: Facebook

The actual quote from the action-thriller, in which Neeson stars as an ex-secret service agent whose daughter is abducted, is: “If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

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The post performed quite well for Mr Miles, attracting more than 600 reactions, almost 200 shares and dozens of comments.

Mr Miles’ novel approach on Facebook comes as Victoria recorded six deaths and 384 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and NSW recorded 14 new cases.

Queensland recorded no new cases on Tuesday, with five cases still active – including one on the Gold Coast. All up, 1076 cases have been confirmed across Queensland since the pandemic started and more than half a million tests have been conducted. In total, 1063 patients have recovered, two are in hospital and six Queenslanders have died.

The State Government is keen to avoid the outbreaks of the southern states, linked to breaches of hotel quarantine and clusters arising from venues and gatherings.

Queensland’s border remains shut to anyone who has been in Victoria or hot spots in NSW, including Campbelltown, Fairfield and Liverpool in Sydney, in the past 14 days.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles speaking in parliament. Picture: Tara Croser.

Speaking from north Queensland, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk appeared surprised people were trying their best to beat border blockades.

“People should use their common sense and just shouldn’t do it,” she said.

“The rules are there, the rules are tough and the rules are being enforced.”

The Premier’s warning comes after two border hoppers were allegedly busted trying to flout the state’s tough restrictions.

A man in his 30s was arrested on warrants after he tried to cross the border on a bus on Tuesday with no ticket and no border pass, according to police. Police said his bus was intercepted by officers at the Griffith St checkpoint in Coolangatta.

Police arrest an alleged border runner, putting an end to a chase which began at Gold Coast Airport. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Just one day earlier, an eagle-eyed lollipop lady helped police track down a “runner” accused of fleeing a checkpoint.

It’s alleged the man, 24, touched down on a flight at Gold Coast Airport from Sydney on Monday and fled the area when it became clear he was wanted on a return-to-prison warrant.

Gold Coast Police Superintendent Mark Wheeler said the incident was one example of what officers were dealing with at border crossings.

“People who don’t want to comply with the system or the rules, and we’ve seen numerous examples of that, police will take action,” he said.