PM issues strongest border demand yet

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has used his strongest language yet as he implores Queensland to open its borders and “get planes flying again”.

QUEENSLAND needs to open its borders in July and let people know when it’s happening at the earliest opportunity, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as he urged them to “get planes flying again”.

While Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at one point indicated it could be September before the state border is reopened, she has relented and indicated it will be reviewed at the end of the month.

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In his strongest language on the contentious subject to date, Mr Morrison used Question Time today to urge all the domestic state borders to come down - specifically calling out South Australia, for Tasmania, for Queensland and Western Australia.

“We need to get planes flying around Australia and if you want to see planes flying around Australia, we need to open up these domestic borders,” he said.

“This isn’t a partisan issue. This is about ensuring that our economies can open up.

“I would be hoping that at the earliest possible opportunity states will be able to indicate the date in July that interstate travel will be open again to be able to give that certainty.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during Question Time at the House of Representatives today. Picture: AAP.

He said it would be vital to saving as many airline jobs as possible, including for the embattled Virgin Australia.

“It is in Virgin’s interests, it is in Qantas’ interests, it’s the aviation sector’s interest that we move to opening up travel in Australia as soon as possible,” he said.

Originally published as PM issues strongest border demand yet