Coronavirus: regional easing too confusing, says minister

A push to lift coronavirus restrictions on businesses and social activities in regional Queensland has been shot down.

Dan Argent and Emily Robinson take the dogs for a spin in their 1960 MGA on Sunday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

A push to lift coronavirus restrictions on businesses and social ­activities in regional Queensland has been shot down by Health Minister Steven Miles, who says zonal differences in permissible activity could confuse people and create extra work for police.

All bar seven of the state’s 53 ­active cases are in the southeast corner and most of the vast region west of the Great Dividing Range has remained free of the virus.

Some restrictions on business and social activity were lifted on Saturday, allowing people to venture up to 50km for non-essential activities.

Mr Miles praised the response from Queenslanders, who he said had mostly abided by social distancing rules.

For Dan Argent, the easing of the restrictions allowed him to take his prized 1960 MGA convertible for a leisurely drive on Sunday.

“It’s a beautiful day here in Brisbane, so we took advantage of it and came for a drive with our dogs,” Mr Argent said.

“I had to buy a trickle-charger for the battery on the car because it has been sitting unused for so long.

“It’s been great to take it out.”

New Farm Park in inner-Brisbane was the busiest it has been for more than a month but the visitors, including many families, kept to their own groups, which are limited to members of the same household or an individual and one friend.

Police on horseback and pushbikes mixed with the dispersed groups, checking they complied with the new rules.

Caitlin O’Neill said it was “amazing” to be able to relax in the park with her housemate Thalia Price.

“As someone who loves to be outside, it was so good to be able to hang out in the park and go for a picnic,” Ms O’Neill said.

“Everyone seemed to be really happy but aware of keeping their distance from other groups.”

Queensland police on Saturday issued 32 fines of $1334 for people deemed to have breached public health directions.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday morning, Mr Miles said introducing or lifting different rules for different regions would confuse people who moved ­between regions.

“We are hesitant to do that ­because it’s difficult enough to ­ensure everyone is aware of the ­restrictions when they are consistent, statewide,” he said.

“If we were to start changing them region-by-region, that ­creates another added level of ­difficulty for Queenslanders to comply, for businesses to comply and for police to do enforcement.”

Mr Miles said it could be re-­examined if a region went more than two 14-day incubation periods without a new case.

A cabal of doctors, civic leaders and businesses in north Queensland has written to the government, asking for the restrictions to be eased there to allow the economy to recover.