Coronavirus: Queensland election a bridge too far for leaders
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are likely to be locked out of Queensland ahead of the October 31 state election.
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are likely to be locked out of Queensland ahead of the October 31 state election under the Palaszczuk government’s controversial border closures.
The exclusion of the federal leaders will hurt Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington’s chances of winning government by using a visit by the Prime Minister to halt the momentum of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, whose popularity has risen due to her handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Health Department’s guidelines, the border will remain shut to NSW, ACT and Victorian residents unless there are 28 days without community transmission in those jurisdictions. Ms Palaszczuk has said border closures would be reviewed only on the last day of each month.
The border is expected to remain shut to Victorian residents until Christmas, and at least one new case of the virus detected in NSW this week had no known source, effectively ruling out the chance of the Premier reopening the border when she makes a decision on September 30.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young clarified the government edict on Thursday when asked whether there was any chance the border to NSW would reopen ahead of the AFL grand final on October 24.
“At this point in time, the trigger to open the border to NSW is when they have had two incubation periods of no community transmission,” Dr Young said.
She said NSW, which has seen case numbers drop in recent weeks, was “getting there” but needed consistent results over four weeks.
A loophole in Queensland’s border restrictions for elected representatives would allow Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese to enter Queensland but they would be required to spend two weeks in quarantine upon arrival, meaning any visit is unlikely.
“(Elected representatives) can enter Queensland from a declared COVID-19 hotspot, such as the ACT, to return to their electorate or to perform official duties,” a Queensland Health spokesman said. “They must enter via air and will be required to quarantine for 14 days from the date of arrival as per global quarantine requirements.”
The offices of both leaders said there were no plans for them to travel to Queensland in the near future.
Health Minister Steven Miles on Thursday denied the border closures were part of an election strategy: “Our decisions are made by our Chief Health Officer each and every day, and in the case of borders, at the end of every month, with only one thing in mind and that is how to keep Queenslanders safe.”
Meanwhile, Labor has used a “community cabinet” meeting in Cairns on Monday to begin its unofficial election campaign.
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