‘Double standards’, here’s what our readers think about Qld border remaining open

‘Political and parochial’, ‘double standards’ and ‘just waiting for Origin’ - here’s what our readers think about the Queensland border remaining open to NSW. SEE THE POLL RESULTS

On Wednesday afternoon, reporter Rae Wilson asked the important question seemingly on everyone’s lips: why the Queensland Premier hasn’t closed the border, and what took the Victorians so long.

We asked you to vote and comment on the escalating border situation and we have heard you, loud and clear!

Almost 3,000 people voted in our poll, and more than 170 left a comment, with the overwhelming sentiment being that the Queensland border to New South Wales should be slammed shut, now!

Poll result following Rae Wilson's piece on the unfolding situation in NSW, and the decision to keep the borders to Queensland and Victoria open for so long.

SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE IN THE POLL

Of the 2,834 participants, 68 per cent said Queensland should close the border, while 32 per cent said it should remain open.
Commenters spoke about the double standards in contrast to last year, and many thought the only reason it was still open was to ensure the NRL and State of Origin competitions were safe.

“Borders will close once all the NRL players are in Qld. Double standards!” Liz said.
“All border decisions have been political and parochial. This one will be no different,” Geoff said.

Many commenters tried to predict how quickly the border would close, following the end of the State of Origin series.
“I tip Friday. Maybe Sunday so the southerners can spend up on the weekend before being told to shove off,” Vernon said.

“SOO3 (State of Origin, Game 3) done and dusted, all NRL teams, management and families in QLD “bubble”, AP (Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk) will now shut the border before she jets off on another ego trip to Tokyo” Jilly B said.

“She (the Premier) is happy to have the football up there and the NRL teams and their families who haven’t been in the bubble up there and yet there are 8 track and field athletes from Sydney who were supposed to meet up with the rest of the Australian Olympic team for a training camp before they leave for Tokyo …”, Sharyn said.

“Qld Labor have played politics with Covid since day one, if the footy wasn’t on the border would be already closed”, a commenter named ‘Undertaker’ said.

Not all of the comments were in favour of the border closure, however, with some saying the decision would be panicked.

“There is no community transmission here in Qld and none north of the greater Sydney area. Stop the panic and learn to live with the virus,” Berwin said.

“You just can’t shut the borders at the drop of the hat. As long as its stays in Sydney there’s no reason to shut 2+ million country citizens out. Jeez we can’t keep going like this,” Peter said.

“You forget the fear campaign was all about jobs … wait till she gets on the plane to Japan and we’ll see what happens with borders” Ian added.

“All states premiers have played politics with Covid. NSW had the chance to act early but waited way too long due to outside influence,” Robert said.

As Rae Wilson said, the decision to close state borders are a difficult one,

but as Sydney and now Melbourne are in the grip of further Delta outbreaks, why have we not moved to shut the gate?

Originally published as ‘Double standards’, here’s what our readers think about Qld border remaining open