No plan will ‘set us back decades’

QUEENSLAND risks losing major airlines, hundreds of thousands of tourists and millions of dollars in business revenue if the state government refuses to declare its road map to a new “Covid normal”.

There are fears the Queensland economy will be set back decades as the state’s political leaders stay tight-lipped on policies for future lockdowns and border closures, even once the magical vaccination target of 80 per cent is reached.

This week NSW and Victoria authorities set clear parameters for the resumption of life as we know it.

It has left Queensland industry leaders fearing a potential mass exodus of businesses and major economic drivers to destinations outside the state offering greater certainty.

Flight Centre boss Graham “Skroo” Turner said such a collapse of confidence would set the state’s ailing tourism sector back decades.

“It’s not just the other states – we’re being left behind the rest of the world,” he said.

“Queensland tourism and travel businesses are already decimated and if people see better opportunities elsewhere while we still don’t have a plan, it’s very worrying.”

CCIQ’s Amanda Rohan said Queensland businesses needed to see a pathway out of the gloom.

“Tell us where we’re going and where the goalposts are,” she said. “If other states are free-moving and we’re still trigger-happy on lockdowns, we will be left behind.”

Leading demographer Bernard Salt believes Queensland would move with southern states rather than risk being left behind.

“If NSW and Victoria open up prior to Queensland, I think Queensland would be forced to follow suit … especially if southerners opening up doesn’t result in an unacceptable health outcome,” he said.