Border closure fight in court

THE Queensland Government has denied in court the state’s border closure is creating financial hardship for businesses, despite the Premier claiming they had been dealt a “crippling blow”.

The stunning development in the High Court challenge to the controversial border lockdown could stall the case by forcing the business owners involved to prove how much revenue they have lost since restrictions were enforced. It comes as the group of renegade business owners and individuals challenging the border lockdown will today try to force the State Government to hand over documents used to justify the interstate travel ban. The three businesses fighting the border ban argue they rely on unrestricted interstate travel for customers or growth opportunities so the closure, which could last until September, is causing them “financial harm”.

But in a defence argument filed in the High Court, State Solicitor-General Sandy Thompson QC revealed the government “do not admit” the businesses’ financial hardship is a result of the border restrictions. The rejection of the businesses’ argument could severely delay the case by forcing the owners to provide detailed accounting records showing revenue downturns since the restrictions were applied.

The companies – including the parent company of Reefinity Adventures, which runs a charter service on the Great Barrier Reef – argue they continue to suffer financial hardship as a result of the border closure.

The case is scheduled to return to court today.