David Crisafulli risks hard-earned respect by dodging one question

Can I go get a coffee? Can I go grocery shopping? Can I start living my life again? Premier, you need to answers these questions and you need to answer them NOW.

Premier David Crisafulli risks losing the hard-earned respect of South East Queenslanders if he can’t answer their simple question – can life return to normal?

Mr Crisafulli has done a commendable job keeping Queenslanders informed and prepared as Alfred crept closer to the coast, but faltered almost as soon as it became an ex-tropical cyclone.

When asked on Saturday morning if residents could leave their homes, Mr Crisafulli said he would not “dictate orders to people”.

He trumpeted the consistent flow of information being provided by the state without answering that one question South East Queenslanders are demanding.

Instead, Mr Crisafulli said people shouldn’t run on an eroded beach, people who would rebuild the region can drive and those out for a “sticky beak” can’t.

What about the family in Brisbane that needs to get to the supermarket?

Can the cafe owner with rent and electricity to pay reopen their small business?

While the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting isolated falls of up to 800mm, it can’t be the catalyst for keeping millions of residents at home and the Brisbane central business district closed.

The advice for the Gold Coast can be different to that for Brisbane, Moreton and the Sunshine Coast.

Annastacia Palaszczuk lost skin in 2022 when she confusingly closed schools due to forecast storms that never arrived.

Mr Crisafulli can’t make the same mistake.

We’re used to heavy rain and people can use common sense to go safely about their lives.

Mr Crisafulli has earned the respect of Queenslanders through this event but risks losing them if he begins overruling personal responsibility.

Of course this weather event remains a threat with wind tipped to soon make way for heavy rain – but rain doesn’t shut the city down.

With this Premier Queenslanders expect a different approach to the risk-averse former government’s snap lockdowns during Covid and school closures before storms.

It’s time for a clear message, can the cafe owner open?

Originally published as David Crisafulli risks hard-earned respect by dodging one question