Premier’s stunning claim on border closure

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has made a stunning claim about the border closure despite howls of protests from Queensland businesses. It comes as she also says the impact of the mass Black Lives Matters protests of June 6 will potentially impact on firmly locking in a July 10 reopening date.

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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.

New tourism research shows the Gold Coast will lose more than $1.2 billion in interstate tourism revenue in the next three months unless the border is opened up.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says many locals do not want the border reopened. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

“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’s border is set to reopen next month. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

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.

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 said: “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.

Ms Palaszczuk also said her government will have to look very closely at the impact of the June 6 mass protests before making a decision on the state’s borders.

The Government is expected to announce at the end of the month if it will reopen on the border on July 10 – as has been flagged in the roadmap to easing restrictions.

“We will be meeting with the National Cabinet Friday week,” Ms Palaszczuk.

The Premier said there was no hard and fast rule over how many days of zero community transmission would be required interstate before the borders can open.

She also revealed the second stage of the State Government’s economic recovery plan Unite and Recover for Queensland jobs.

That plan includes a regional home building boost and an additional $100 million worth of grants of up to $10,000 for small businesses.

It has already been confirmed earlier today that there have been no new cases of coronavirus recorded in Queensland overnight.

There are currently five active cases across the state with 1065 total cases since the pandemic began.

Originally published as Premier’s stunning claim on border closure