Queensland borders: Who can enter state under new restrictions? Full list of banned areas

Queensland is banning anyone from greater Sydney from entering the state from 1am on Saturday. Including suburbs hours from the city.

The Queensland border has slammed shut on millions of Australians as the state reels from two new virus infections in residents returning from interstate.

Weeks after reopening the state to most of Australia, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has declared all of greater Sydney a virus hotspot, with the region’s five million residents to be banned from entering the state from 1am on Saturday.

There are 34 local government areas that will be banned, including the Central Coast, Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains.

But the Wollongong and Newcastle areas have not been included.

Queenslanders who return after visiting greater Sydney have to quarantine for 14 days upon their return, at their expense.

It comes as Sydney battles spikes in COVID-19 cases in western and southwestern Sydney as well as the inner city suburb of Potts Point.

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“There has been more outbreaks in other parts of greater Sydney and that will now become another declared hotspot,” Ms Palaszczuk said today.

“We are monitoring the situation in NSW every single day,” she added.

“We do not want a second wave here and we do not want widespread community transmission.”

Prior to the announcement, Queensland had barred interstate travellers from the entire state of Victoria as well as the Sydney local government areas of Fairfield, Liverpool and Campbelltown due to notable outbreaks including the Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park and the Crossroads Hotel in Casula.

But from Saturday, Queensland’s ban will apply to the entire greater Sydney region, which is home to more than five million residents.

Greater Sydney encompasses 34 council areas and stretches from Wyong and Gosford in the north to the Royal National Park in the south, and out west to the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Wollondilly council areas.

Queenslanders who visit a designated hotspot are already required to undergo mandatory self-funded quarantine for 14 days upon returning home.

AREAS BANNED BY QUEENSLAND

In addition to the entire state of Victoria, the following local government areas in greater Sydney have been declared a virus hotspot by the Queensland Government:

• Bayside

• Blacktown

• Blue Mountains

• Burwood

• Camden

• Campbelltown (already a hotspot)

• Canada Bay

• Canterbury-Bankstown

• Central Coast

• Cumberland

• Fairfield (already a hotspot)

• Georges River

• Hawkesbury

• Hornsby

• Hunter’s Hill

• Inner West

• Ku-ring-gai

• Lane Cove

• Liverpool (already a hotspot)

• Mosman

• North Sydney

• Northern Beaches

• Parramatta

• Penrith

• Randwick

• Ryde

• Strathfield

• Sutherland Shire

• City of Sydney

• The Hills Shire

• Waverley

• Willoughby

• Wollondilly Shire

• Woollahra

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has declared all of greater Sydney a virus hotspot, with a hard border with the region to be enforced from Saturday. Picture: Paul Beutel

Today’s announcement will affect any Queenslanders currently in greater Sydney despite Ms Palaszczuk’s previous warnings against travelling to NSW and Victoria.

The Premier said the Saturday deadline would “give notice to Queenslanders that may have returned home or may want to return home”.

“It will cause inconvenience to families and I know there may be many events planned over the next few days, few weeks but it is too important,” she said.

“We must protect Queenslanders. Your safety comes first and we are in extraordinary times at the moment.”

Ms Palaszczuk acknowledged the hardened border would have an impact on the state’s battered tourism industry but “Queenslanders’ health comes first”.

The move to close borders to Greater Sydney has blindsided NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who told 10 News she received “no prior notice” of the Queensland Government’s plan.

“It would have been nice if she told me,” Ms Berejiklian told reporters today.

Ms Berejiklian said the border closures were a “matter for the Queensland Government and a matter for her (Ms Palaszczuk).”