Operator takes aim at ‘unfair’ lockdown

A CAPE York tourist operator is appalled thousands can protest in contravention of COVID laws but he can’t visit his dying mother in Cairns or get essential tour vehicles repaired while the Cape remains in the grip of lockdown.

About 12 years ago Anthony Hadleigh (right) leased land from traditional owners at Cape Flattery to take advantage of world-class wind conditions and set up a kitesurfing mecca.

But not a single visitor has been on the water in four months in what he described as an oppressive and unfair lockdown.

“I have worked every day of my life to change my life … to try and follow my dream of building a self-sustainable ecotype camp,” he said.

“And we have done that but if we don’t open until mid-July we have lost two thirds of our season, it’s not going to be viable for us to open by the time we pay public liability and do all the rest of it.”

Mr Hadleigh was angry at having to knock back customers while other Queensland destinations got ready for the school holiday rush. “We have had three emails today from people wanting to support our business and we can’t even take a booking,” he said.

“There is just no common sense, how can they have a Black Lives Matter protest and we can’t open our business.”

Mr Hadleigh has also been denied a request on compassionate grounds to visit his sick mother in Cairns.

“For me to leave to see my dying mum, there is a few weeks wait in the quarantine facility and then you have to be there for two weeks,” he said.

“I can’t leave my partner on a deserted beach in the middle of nowhere for up to a month on her own. It’s like the Berlin Wall separating families using the police and army.”

The Hope Vale business owner has also been denied requests to repair vehicles in Cairns used to collect tourists from Port Douglas.

It’s expected the lockdown for some parts of the Cape will end this Friday but Hope Vale could remain excluded.