Annastacia Palaszczuk takes aim at NSW’s sluggish lockdown response

The Queensland Premier offered a scathing review of her NSW counterpart’s slow lockdown response as debate rages over border measures.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has delivered a scathing assessment of NSW’s handling of its recent Covid-19 outbreak, outlining the devastating impact of Gladys Berejiklian’s lockdown delay.

As debate rages over when to open interstate borders, the Queensland Premier again highlighted the freedoms on offer within the state for residents to attend live events and keep pubs and clubs operating.

The state government has been accused in the past of being too willing to order millions into lockdown but, as Ms Palaszczuk reminded a business community event on Wednesday, the government’s health response has managed to contain more than 20 separate threats of the highly contagious Delta variant since June.

“Our last lockdown lasted eight days,” the Premier said in an address to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).

“Eight days after the start of its current outbreak, NSW was yet to enter lockdown.

Ms Palaszczuk compared Queensland’s response to NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“It’s been in one (lockdown) now for three months at a cost to business of $100 million a day.

“Its first case in June has spread to 68,837 cases in Victoria, the ACT and New Zealand and tragically over 333 people have lost their lives.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the devastating comparison with NSW acts as a reminder to the possible destruction that spreads from “just one case”.

“Our neighbours fight to regain their freedoms,” she said.

“We fight to retain our freedoms.”

Meanwhile, from Wednesday all of Queensland’s vaccination hubs would be made available to walk-ins while operating hours were extended into the evenings.

The state was regularly criticised for its comparatively slow jab coverage but it was hoped an increased supply and the removal of barriers to receive doses would allow the rate to rise.

All vaccination hubs in Queensland are now available to walk-ins. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Jono Searle

More than 45 per cent of the state’s population was fully vaccinated, which would need to significantly improve before the Palaszczuk government entertained the prospect of interstate travel.

Standing firm on her team’s tough pandemic policies, the Premier credited the government’s health response with improving key economic indicators.

Since the pandemic began, Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland leads the country with creating 67,000 more jobs and outpacing other states by lifting its domestic economy by 4.6 per cent to June.

She said the relative freedoms enjoyed within the state has made Queensland an attractive state to live and do business.

“The rest of Australia is voting with their feet,” the Premier told the CEDA event.

“Last year — in the midst of the pandemic — Queensland had the biggest net gain in people moving from interstate in 20 years.

“Our economy has grown to $363 billion and key pillars like construction, mining and agriculture have never stopped.

“By keeping Covid under control we have kept Queensland’s economy going.”

Originally published as Annastacia Palaszczuk takes aim at NSW’s sluggish lockdown response