NSW hits back: move border further north

The NSW and Queensland Premiers are at loggerheads over the placement of the Qld-NSW border checkpoint, which is causing traffic and headaches for border communities.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said she does not want to move the NSW/Queensland border further south towards the Tweed River, despite pleas from the northern state to do so in the interest of traffic management.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, the NSW Premier said she would be happy to discuss the issue with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk but noted, despite multiple media reports, their first direct contact had not come until earlier that morning.

“It’s only this morning that I got a very short text from the Queensland Premier about the matter,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk is requesting border checkpoints be moved south further into NSW to try to beat the long delays motorists face trying to travel interstate and minimise the impact on border communities, though Ms Berejiklian is reluctant to get on board.

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“We’re happy to engage and I’m happy to consider all options – except I do not believe at any stage we should move the border,” she said.

“If anything, the border should be moved north.

“There is zero infection in northern NSW at this stage and certainly we’ll do the right thing by residents on both sides of the border but I have no intention of changing things as yet.”

At the moment, traffic entering Queensland from NSW can stretch back for kilometres, with frustrated drivers forced to endure hours-long delays in order to cross.

Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has called for the NSW-Qld border to be moved further south to help border communities Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

Ms Palaszczuk will on Monday send a detailed submission to Ms Berejiklian about moving the Queensland-NSW border further south to the Tweed River.

Ms Palaszczuk said her government had made the suggestion back in March, only for it to be rejected.

“It was not even considered,” she said. “In the spirit of co-operation it would be good if the NSW Government could now give it due consideration.”

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Ms Palaszczuk said as well as making it easier for police and defence force personnel, moving the border would also make the traffic flow between the border communities easier.

“They will remain NSW residents,” she said. “I’m just trying to make it easier for people.”

Ms Palaszczuk urged those living on the border to speak up.

“Perhaps the Tweed residents would like to make their views known to the NSW Government,” she said.

The NSW Premier has said she is yet to receive Ms Palaszczuk’s letter or any concrete information.

“I’m unclear as to what the Queensland Government is asking us to do because they’ve not communicated that yet,” Ms Berejiklian said on Monday.