FNQ FIGHTBACK Police praise mindful tourists
NOT a single tourist was turned back at the Cairns Airport border over the weekend as Queensland reopened its doors, with police praising the “responsibility” of visitors.
Officers were on hand to meet almost 20 interstate and Brisbane flights that landed in the city on Saturday and Sunday, each carrying up to 180 passengers.
NSW visitors made up the bulk of the arrivals, although there were also several from South Australia and Western Australia who flew into the Far North via Sydney or Brisbane.
Far North police Acting Senior Sergeant Doug Godden said police queried passengers where they had come from and had been for the past fortnight.
He said some had not filled out the required declaration form but were able to complete it at the airport, and no one had been barred from entering.
“It’s good the community is taking the responsibility to protect themselves and us and make good decisions in that regard,” he said.
“We haven’t had a massive influx of people doing the wrong thing.”
Scheduled flights from Melbourne into Cairns have now been cancelled, with the whole of Victoria now declared a hotspot and residents barred from entering Queensland. Sergeant Godden said police would continue to meet flights in the coming days under the current Queensland government directions.
Among the visitors arriving in Cairns over the weekend was the Williams family from Brisbane, who were enjoying a quick break at the end of the school holidays.
Mum Catherine Williams said Cairns was the perfect place for a family holiday postCOVID lockdown, offering a wide range of things to see and do.
“I’ve been to Cairns mainly for work purposes not so much for visiting, but we are here for a holiday,” Ms Williams said.
“We love the tropical climate and the rainforest.
“It’s really great to go and visit all the natural beauty of the surrounding region, so that’s the other reason we came up as well.
“It’s been lovely.”