BORDER ‘BREACH’
Police confess it’s impossible to keep all at-risk people out
BORDER residents warn cars get waved through the Queensland blockade at Tweed-Coolangatta with little to no scrutiny as a police boss admits it’s impossible to stop every atrisk case coming in.
As some locals fume at how easy it is to pass checkpoints aimed at weeding out Victorians where coronavirus cases are surging, Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski admits “it’s a little concerning because we see our borders as our first line of defence. There is no such thing as a 100 per cent guarantee we’ll be able to detect everyone we should.”
BORDER residents warn vehicles are waved through Queensland’s blockade at Tweed-Coolangatta with little to no scrutiny as a police boss admits it’s impossible to stop every at-risk case getting in.
Border crossers posting online include Michelle Alexiou who said the system was “rubbish” and “some (police officers) check and some don’t”.
“We cross daily and just show some forms in the car for however many people, some even with the same name. We have never had them check our licenses or anything further,” she said. “My stepson’s girlfriend even said she forgot hers the other day and the officer said ‘no worries I believe you’.”
Lucy Kanda crosses the border with Victorian number plates and “two of the three times I’ve been across since Friday, I’ve been waved through without any check”.
On Friday, Queenland borders reopened to all but Victorians. It was reported passengers going through Coolangatta were seen leaving vehicles before the border and hopping back in after checkpoints.
Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski on Monday admitted it was impossible to prevent all at-risk people passing checkpoints. “It’s a little concerning because we see our borders as our first line of defence,” he said.
Police aim to weed out motorists from Victoria where coronavirus outbreaks have surged by requiring a statutory declaration they have not been
in the stricken state for 14 days. They can also request proof such as accommodation and fuel receipts plus photos. It has led to 90-minute waits at Gold Coast checkpoints.
“Given the numbers we’re talking about coming in, there is no such thing as a 100 per cent guarantee we’ll be able to detect everyone we should,” Mr Gollschewski said.
“We’ve put in an enormous
amount of work to make sure we can rapidly respond to outbreaks. The testing regime is broad, we are prepared, we are testing and exercising our rapid response capability.
“If anything happens we’ll be able to respond quickly and lock it down, contain and contact trace.”
Since July 3, 486,000 border declaration passes had been applied for online, 17,000 vehicles were intercepted at borders and 500 vehicles with 850 people were turned back. A further 10,700 people were processed via domestic airports since Friday with nine people refused entry. In total, 307 people were put in quarantine at their own expense.
“We’re still seeing people try to get into Queensland when they’re not entitled to,” Mr Gollschewski said. “This is a long way from being over.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s office was asked if she was concerned by vehicles slipping through borders and if any changes were planned.
Her office said: “Any evidence or complaints about specific incidents should be forwarded to police who can take the appropriate action.”
Asked last week if every car with a Victorian plate would be stopped, Coast District Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said it depended on the case but any with a Victorian plate but no pass “will be intercepted”.
“We’re doing this in a commonsense way. If we’ve got traffic backed up for kilometres, to be pulling over every second car is going to create more congestion than we’d like but we’re being as careful as we can.”