TAKE THAT, QUEENSLAND! YOUR SAY ON BEACHES

IT was the comment that made an entire state laugh: Queensland MP Steven Miles’ snarky parochial backhander about our scenic island has sparked a robust online defence from incredulous Tasmanians.

After Premier Peter Gutwein left Queensland out of Tasmania’s travel bubble, Mr Miles threw his toys out of the pram: “We don’t need any kind of travel bubble with Tasmania,” he said.

“I don’t see any reason why anyone would want to go to Tassie.

“We’ve got lots of fantastic parts of Queensland to visit and I know that lots of Queenslanders are doing that right now.

“I’m sure Tassie’s a pretty place, but it’s no Queensland.”

Most Tasmanians know Queensland as the blisteringly hot home of coal mines, cane toads, crocodiles and Clive Palmer – a place which rejoices in the nation’s worst beer, most deadly jellyfish and a populace which considers daylight savings an elaborate plot by southern intellectuals to fade their curtains.

Mercury readers responded to Mr Miles’ jab with gusto, posting photographs of the state’s magnificent scenery and giving him a few tips on the top spots.

The Mercury received more than 400 photo submissions from beach-going Tasmanians.

Glaring omissions from the photos included gaudy highrise apartment towers, crowds, schoolies, toolies, quarantine dodgers and legions of leathery retirees who have baked for too long in the sun.

So, on our website, we have compiled a showcase of readers’ photos to show Queenslanders what they’re missing.

As local Labor MP David O’Byrne pointed out, there may come a time when Queenslanders are welcome again.

“How about you walk past the high-rise concrete jungle and when you can, come down for some air,” he posted on Twitter.

Clifton Beach resident Beck Hill scoffed at the comments made by the Queensland Deputy Premier.

“I’ve grown up and lived by the beach my whole life,” she said. “It wasn’t until we went on a holiday to Europe when we thought ‘yeah, we really do have some of the nicest beaches in the world’.”

Queensland resident Jenny Spencer is a surprising supporter of the Tassie vs Queensland beaches debate, and says Tasmania’s Southport definitely beats the Gold Coast’s beach of the same name.

“I’m a Queenslander who would much prefer to holiday in Tasmania and have been doing so for the last 20 years,” Ms Spencer said.