Qld NSW border closure: Tweed council demands its side is shut

Tweed council has written to the NSW Premier asking the border, already closed on the Queensland side, is shut in the opposite direction too. Here’s why.

Queensland Police stop vehicles on Griffith Street in Coolangatta. Picture: Scott Powick.

TWEED Shire Council has written to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to demand the NSW border is closed to protect the Tweed.

The motion, which was amended to exclude also petitioning for the Tweed Shire to be declared a “red zone”, passed unanimously at Thursday’s first online Tweed Shire Council meeting.

Moved by mayor Katie Milne the council resolved: “The Mayor writes to the NSW Premier as soon as possible and the Local State Member to request a NSW border closure for the Tweed Shire as a matter of urgency to provide further protection for NSW and Tweed Shire residents.”

The border has already been closed in the opposite direction, with NSW residents unable to enter Queensland without special permits.

Police stop vehicles on Griffith Street, Coolangatta. Picture: Scott Powick.

Cr Milne said locals were feeling “swamped and overwhelmed” by Queenslanders coming into the shire’s supermarkets and beaches.

She spoke about concerns from the public about the “large number of Queensland residents coming into our shire who are normally welcome but in this situation they are creating considerable angst and anxiety”.

During the council meeting, Cr James Owen said he had written to Tweed MP Geoff Provest and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian earlier last week relaying similar community feedback.

Cr Milne said she had already written a number of times to Mr Provest and had not received a response, but was willing to write again.

“I understand he is not supportive of that position or taking calls from community members about that,” she said.

Queensland Police stop vehicles on Griffith Street, Coolangatta. Picture: Scott Powick.

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In a statement released on Friday, Mr Provest said he had been in constant contact with the NSW Premier about the border situation and “there are currently no plans for NSW to close its borders and there is no current health advice requiring this”.

He reminded the public either side of the border “there are limited reasons an individual can be outside their place of residence in NSW”.

These reasons include work and education (where you can’t work remotely), shopping for food and essentials, medical needs or the care of others and exercise.

“Anyone who is undertaking a holiday in regional NSW, or entering NSW for a reason outside the reasons listed above is breaking the law,” Mr Provest said.

“Members of the community are encouraged to report anyone breaking the law under the Public Health (Covid-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020 to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Cr Milne expressed a wish to put forward a separate motion about making the Tweed Shire a “red zone” as a coronavirus preventive measure at a later date.

Originally published as Qld NSW border closure: Tweed council demands its side is shut