Mayor Tom Tate demands Premier announces date for reopening of border

Mayor Tom Tate has revealed what caused him to change his mind on the border being reopened.

MAYOR Tom Tate this morning urged Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to announce today when Queensland’s borders will be reopened.

Cr Tate said after seeing 30,000 people attend the Black Live Matter protest in Brisbane last Saturday “COVID-19 is more than flatlined”.

Cr Tate is likely to get his wish, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison this afternoon indicating that an announcement is imminent from the Queensland government.

“My basis is you have 30,000 people who were not social distancing. There’s been no positive case, so therefore, it looks like COVID-19 has more than flatlined,” Cr Tate said this morning.

“Throughout the nation people are saying ‘when are the Queensland borders going to be opened’.

“If we were not popular, they wouldn’t ask. I don’t hear them say ‘when are South Australia’s borders going to reopen?’”

Mayor Tom Tate with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: AAP.

The border issue was discussed at a National Cabinet meeting today, with Ms Palaszczuk under enormous pressure to announce a reopening date.

Cr Tate said he has his “fingers crossed” as he “wants a date today”.

“Whether it be the first of July of the 10th of July, whenever it may be,” he said.

“Even if you have to move it, people will understand (just) give them a reason why.

“At the moment saying you’re doing to review it and give no date - that’s the frustration.”

Demonstrators crowd King George Square in Brisbane for the Black Lives Matter protest. Picture: AFP.

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Cr Tate said it was “frustrating” to see “so many” Virgin Australia flights lined up to bring people to the Gold Coast from July 13 while not knowing if borders will be open by then.

“There are so many flights coming from Sydney to the Gold Coast,” he said.

“I ask myself ‘do they know something that I don’t know?’

“People from Melbourne and Sydney are getting cold down there and they want to come up and say hello to us.”

Two weeks ago, Cr Tate backed Ms Palaszczuk’s decision to keep the border closed.

Asked what changed his mind, Cr Tate said it was because of the protest.

“I looked on the TV and saw the rally for Black Lives Matter and (the 30,000) protesters there,” he said. “Science wise, it’s contagious and they should be out there fining people. Or it’s not contagious and they should open the border.”