It’s time to relax rules
THE people of Townsville have made huge sacrifices to suppress the coronavirus. No new cases in 20 days and counting!
We should all be proud of this achievement, but it has also come with, and continues to, cost. Costs to educational outcome, teacher burnout, unproductive work-at-home parents struggling to manage both job and schooling, and to our general business/economic activity.
We should also recognise that Townsville must now be treated differently to Brisbane.
The one-size-fits-all approach is wrong.
Queensland welcomes the easing of recreational restrictions statewide, however in Townsville the relaxation could go much further with no increase to risk.
No one believes we should end all restrictions overnight, but it is time to start gradually lifting the lockout here so that Townsville can return to normal.
Townsville’s schools should be open now, in line with the expert health advice from across the country and the views of the Prime Minister.
I have been phone canvassing a stack of people in Townsville and the strong view (90 per cent plus) of the people I talk with is that our kids should be back at school.
If Premier Palaszczuk doesn’t want to listen to the medical professionals then she may want to start listening to the parents.
I believe our businesses can be progressively cleared to reopen, providing they and their customers can observe social distancing and personal hygiene standards.
No one knows how many more businesses we will lose because of coronavirus.
Thousands of jobs are on the line and time is of the essence.
Some North Queenslanders will lose everything if this region’s economy is locked down for much longer.
The way to get Queensland back on its feet is to let each region lift restrictions in a careful and staged manner.
Allowing Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad to dictate this region’s future from Brisbane is not on.
If Townsville and Brisbane’s situations were reversed, there’s no way that Brisbane would still be locked down.
I trust North Queenslanders to rebuild our economy and keep this community safe.
JOHN HATHAWAY, LNP candidate for Townsville.