Queensland refuses to open borders to international arrivals until 90 per cent target

Queensland is refusing to change its stance on overseas arrivals with authorities claiming based on current health advice the risk is too great to reopen international borders.

Queensland is holding firm on its hard border stance with the government claiming the risk is “too great” to let international travellers enter the state before it reaches the 90 per cent vaccination target.

Despite other states putting international travel back on the table, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the same wouldn’t be happening in Queensland due to the current health advice.

“We have set a target of 90 per cent because we believe that until that time, the risk is too great,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said New South Wales and Victoria were able to ease their restrictions earlier because of the high vaccination rates.

“We’ve got 30 per cent of our population not double dosed even at the 70 per cent rate. We need to get the vaccination rates higher, that’s the difference,” she said.

Acting chief health officer Dr Peter Aitken said that the rules would also continue to apply to everyone, even to those who are fully vaccinated.

“Even being double vaccinated and having a Covid test, the vaccination reduces the likelihood that you will get really sick and reduces the risk that you will spread the disease. But there still is a risk there,” he said.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath says the hard borders will stay until the targets are reached. Picture: Tara Croser.

Managing risk is at the forefront of the state’s plan according to Dr Aitken who said there was a greater degree of uncertainty over international travellers compared to those coming from interstate.

“This is about staggering the arrival and the impact on our own health system and our own community,” he said.

“We can do that by letting Queenslanders and other Australians come back into Queensland first, and then slowing down the rate of international arrivals.”

Similarly, domestic travel rules aren’t budging, even for Queenslanders who have reportedly been sleeping in their cars as they wait to cross the border by road.

“We cannot open up to people driving all the way through the state,” she said.

“The rules have been very clear since we went into hot spots. This has been the rules since the start of the year.”

She said the government didn’t want to start “carving up” the state and allowing people who are closer to the border to cross while others have to wait.

Meanwhile, the border pass system is currently in the process of being updated to include both vaccination status and proof of a negative test to make travel easier.

Ms D’Ath said the government was talking with police about how to operationalise it to ensure cars would flow quicker across the border.

“Whether it’s checking every single vehicle or random stops and checks … we’re working through the operational side of that now.”

She said it’s possible random checks for proof of vaccination status and negative tests could be done on those travelling both by road and air.

“There’s always been a fair bit of trust involved. The whole system is based on trust and honesty,” she said.

Originally published as Queensland refuses to open borders to international arrivals until 90 per cent target