Premier urged to act Group in push to seal off North
to create his own community for the unique lawn climate of Townsville. The page has more than 2500 lawn fanatics.
The Cranbrook family were doing their part to self-isolate and had changed their life habits to ensure they helped stop the spread of COVID-19 before a potential lockdown, including exercising at home.
A GROUP of concerned Townsville doctors and business owners will lead the next charge to push for North Queensland to be sealed off.
Under the guidance of Carl Valentine, the group has invited businesses, doctors and politicians to sign the letter addressed to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, pleading for her to protect North Queensland from COVID-19.
This letter would be the third push for the state to cordon off the North with a group of Townsville doctors and Katter’s Australian Party calling for action last week.
But Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper refused to sign the letter and said he would back the State Government’s response to COVID-19.
“I understand that health emergencies need responses that are based on fact and expert medical advice,” he said.
“Clearly in these uncertain times all options need to be on the table, but our response must always be in accordance with advice from Queensland’s Chief Health Officer.”
Mr Harper said the closure of Queensland borders had already stopped the Easter holiday influx states.
“The reality is that the border is effectively closed, as there are already orders in place from the Chief Health Officer that confine people to their homes unless carrying out their employment, shopping for essentials or going to a medical appointment,” he said.
But Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said that there were still grey nomads making their way up into North Queensland.
“We have very limited cases here right now, Townsville only has (18) cases of coronavirus right now in the greater district,” he said.
Mr Dametto said it was time for the Premier and Chief Health Officer to make the “necessary” call.
“North Queenslanders right now have one thing that is on their side … and that is our geographical difference from where the main infectious area is, the southeast corner,” he said.
But the Premier asked for “everyone to just calm down”.
“What we have done is we have protected the most vulnerable in our community, those remote indigenous communities,” she said. from southern