Gladys Berejiklian calls for states to lift coronavirus travel restrictions
Gladys Berejiklian has called on her counterparts to scrap border restrictions so people can travel interstate, but she’s not having much luck.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is having a hard time convincing other state and territory leaders to re-open their borders so interstate travel can resume.
Ms Berejiklian, whose state has worst affected by coronavirus, said she has been “very open” about her opposition to border shutdowns.
NSW and Victoria are the only states that have not introduced restrictions at its borders to stem the spread of the virus.
“I’d probably feel offended if they told me how to do my job,” Ms Berejiklian said, the ABC reported.
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“I often joke with the Queensland Premier that I’ll end up going to Auckland before I go to Brisbane if we continue the way we are going.”
Australia and New Zealand have discussed the idea of a trans-Tasman travel bubble between the two countries. This week an idea was floated for a similar arrangement between Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Ms Berejiklian said she hoped other states would ease border restrictions if transmission in her state remained low.
There have been close to 7000 cases of COVID-19 in Australia, with more than 3000 cases in NSW alone.
This week Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she would consider opening the state’s borders to the Northern Territory or South Australia, where transmission is low, before she allowed travel from NSW and Victoria.
“There could be some opportunity for some travel with SA for example, maybe with the NT,” Ms Palaszczuk said on the ABC’s Q&A on Monday.
“It (borders reopening) depends very much on how community transmission goes in Victoria and New South Wales because unfortunately there’s more community transmission down there and don’t want to see it happening here in Queensland.”
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has vowed not to reopen the Territory until all other Australian borders have reopened.
“We are not opening our borders yet. The answer is no. I’m sorry, but it’s too early. It’s too risky,” he said.
“We are the safest place in Australia because of our secure borders.
“And by being the safest place in Australia, our businesses can be the first to re-open, and Territorians can be the first to get back to work.”
The Northern Territory has recorded only 30 cases of coronavirus since the outbreak began and no virus-related deaths.
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