Qld records no new COVID-19 cases as three men who lied on border pass are charged

Three Brisbane men coming from Victoria have been charged after allegedly lying to police at the border potentially exposing their community to coronavirus.

Three men who allegedly lied to police upon their entry to Queensland from Victoria, potentially exposing the Logan community to further COVID-19 transmission have been charged.

The men allegedly did not disclose that they had been to Melbourne when they passed into Queensland via the Coolangatta Rd border on Sunday, police deputy commissioner Steve Gollschewski said this morning.

All three men, a 29-year-old from Slacks Creek, a 23-year-old from Waterford and a 25-year-old from Loganlea have all been issued notices to appear in court for failing to comply with the COVID-19 Queensland Border Direction.

It comes as Queensland recorded no new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. There are 12 active cases in the state and a cumulative total of 1085.

Authorities are now investigating the three men, as one is believed to be experiencing coronavirus symptoms. All are in hotel quarantine.

“People that criminally deceive their way in … is a problem for us,” Mr Gollschewski said.

“They are all awaiting their results and all have been issued a notice to appear for false declarations.”

Mr Gollschewski said the men had “G passes” that indicated they had not been in a declared hot spot. It was only when they went to get tested and disclosed further information to health officials that authorities intercepted the men.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said false declarations at the border had the potential to unwind all of Queensland’s hard work.

“It is undermining all of the great work Queenslanders have done,” she said.

It’s the second day in a row the state has confirmed no new cases.

It comes as a man who tested positive on Sunday who claimed to be a consular official has been revealed to have been employed by a private security firm based in Afghanistan.

The incident has raised concerns over exemptions granted to those with diplomatic passports, who do not have to undergo the otherwise mandatory 14 days in hotel quarantine.

Last week, five cases in the one cluster were confirmed, after three women returned to Queensland from Melbourne via Sydney and allegedly lied about their whereabouts on their border declaration pass.

Two have since tested positive for the virus, infecting one of their sisters, and two diners at a Sunnybank restaurant.

One diner is employed at Bolton Clarke Aged Care facility at Pinjarra Hills, which remains in lockdown despite all residents and staff having been tested.

The school where one of the women works remains closed, with Parklands Christian College telling staff and students they will have to get retested.