Coronavirus: Queensland shuts border with NT, shelves budget

The Queensland government has postponed its budget indefinitely, will effectively cut off remote indigenous communities from unnecessary visitors.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced tough new measures to combat coronavirus.

The Queensland government has postponed its budget indefinitely, will effectively cut off remote indigenous communities from unnecessary visitors, and will shut down the state’s border with the Northern Territory in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The number of confirmed cases in the state leapt by 40 on Friday, taking the total number of people diagnosed with the virus in Queensland to 184. Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young warned the rate of infection in Queensland was escalating, and reiterated advice for Queenslanders to cancel non-essential social plans, particularly for those aged over 60 with one or more chronic illnesses.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the budget, planned for April 28, would be postponed, and could not say whether it would be held before the scheduled state election on October 31.

“I don’t have an exact date yet, but I think everybody would understand that it absolutely impossible to do any forecasts when you don’t know the final implications,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The Weekend Australian understands the government has supply for the rest of the calendar year.

Treasurer Jackie Trad is working on an economic stimulus package to be delivered within weeks, with a focus on household assistance to Premier.

Deputy Opposition leader Tim Mander said given the uncertainty around the budget, it was vital Ms Trad delivered an immediate economic stimulus package, with Queensland’s response paling in comparison to the $2.3bn offered by NSW.

The Queensland government has so far promised a $27.5m package for the tourism, agricultural and education sectors, as well as a $500m no-interest loan facility for businesses and a deferral in payroll tax.

Mr Mander said there should also be a freeze on car registration, ceilings for bulk water and electricity prices, and immediate payroll tax relief for businesses.

Queensland will also put in place extra travel restrictions.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was crucial to protect Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people, particularly those aged over 50, who were among the most vulnerable to COVID-19. Most of the Cape York Aboriginal communities, the Torres Strait Islands, and Cherbourg in southeast Queensland are included in the list of communities that will be shut to all but essential travel.

“It’s really important that we put in these protective measures now, it’s absolutely critical at this point in time,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Mayors of discrete indigenous communities across Queensland have backed new travel restrictions that will see only essential visitors enter those places, including those providing emergency services, medical supplies, and food.

Ms Palaszczuk said arrangements would be made to fly children at boarding school home to those communities as soon as possible, and special government-funded charter flights will likely be organised.

She said Queensland would match measures the Northern Territory had introduced along the shared border, to effectively introduce border restrictions in the state’s west.