Border closure ‘a boost to state’

THE controversial closure of Queensland’s borders has actually helped the state’s economy reopen faster, the Premier says.

Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday said the state’s strict health response, which has been criticised for stifling the economy and costing jobs, was necessary to save the economy.

Since the border closures were announced in March, Queensland has brought community transmission of the coronavirus under control and sustained a low rate of new cases.

The Premier says this has allowed the Government to relax restrictions and stimulate the economy faster.

“It means we can open up our restaurants, our cafes, faster,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“We can get life back to the ‘new normal’, but we can’t do that if we have community transmission.”

The Premier has spent weeks defending the decision to close borders, after it drew ire from stakeholders across the country and sparked two High Court challenges.

Politicians including State Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, Queensland federal MP Peter Dutton and the Prime Minister have also piled on the pressure.

Reopening the border has been pencilled in for July 10, but escalating community transmission in Victoria has cast a shadow over that timeline.

Queensland has now gone six days without a single new coronavirus case, and has just two active cases.

Ms Palaszczuk on Monday would not rule out the possibility of opening borders to select states, but yesterday said Queensland was not in discussions with other states about creating a so-called “travel bubble”.

IT MEANS WE CAN OPEN OUR RESTAURANTS, OUR CAFES, FASTER. WE CAN GET LIFE BACK TO THE ‘NEW NORMAL’

ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK

A decision on reopening borders will not be made until after a National Cabinet meeting on Friday, she said.

The spike in Victoria meanwhile prompted warnings of tougher lockdowns after the state’s active cases more than doubled in a week, with 17 new infections yesterday taking the total to 142.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the possibility of tighter lockdowns and even stay-at-home orders for certain suburbs was still active.

“If we are able to maintain low levels and low numbers … then I’m hopeful that we can avoid those lockdowns,” he told ABC radio.