OPEN DAMN BORDERS
Businesses fed up as restrictions eased but Premier holds firm on closure
THE engine room of the Gold Coast economy has one simple wish for Christmas: Open the damn borders.
The city’s 60,000 small business powerhouse says it will struggle to hang on past the summer peak if politicians fail to stop squabbling and put out the welcome sign for all domestic tourists and international safe havens.
GOLD Coast operators are celebrating after news Queensland will ease a number of restrictions from Tuesday, but tourism heavyweights say we cannot afford more uncertainty on the border.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Friday that from 4pm on November 17 indoor premises would be allowed to have one patron for every 2sq m as opposed to one person for every 4sq m.
Up to 200 people will also be allowed to attend weddings and funerals, gathering caps at homes and public spaces will be lifted from 40 to 50 people, and seating capacity at open-air stadiums will increase from 75 per cent to 100 per cent.
The easing will start in time for Wednesday night’s State of Origin rugby league decider in Brisbane.
Outdoor dancing at music festivals will be allowed and guests at weddings can hit the dance floor.
Ms Palaszczuk’s easing of restrictions coincided with Prime Minister Scott Morrison announcing that all of the country’s borders, with the exception of Western Australia, would be open by Christmas under a new agreement struck between the nation’s leaders.
Soon after Friday’s National Cabinet meeting, South Australia confirmed it would reopen its border to Victoria on December 1. However, Queensland will not make a decision until the end of the month.
Marisha Quince, from boutique wedding planning business Magnolia Studios, said easing restrictions would help her industry, but it was tough to work around remaining COVID-safe rules.
“It’s fantastic and will make a lot of couples very happy having the restrictions eased,” she said.
“Our biggest issue now is just with social distancing – it’s very hard to police at weddings.
“You’re not allowed to serve wedding cake that’s been on display, grazing boards and food on display can’t be served. There’s still a bit of a way to go.”
The eased restrictions come after Queensland experienced 60 days without a locally acquired case.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young urged people to wear masks at events at 100 per cent capacity.
She suggested they could take it off while seated, but could consider wearing it when getting up for food or going to the toilet.
Australian Accommodation Association CEO Dean Long said the industry had been left perplexed as to why the Queensland government could not review its border stance sooner.
“We are definitely pushing too close to Christmas, people are making bookings now,” Mr Long said.
“They have certainty in every other state but Queensland, that means operators are being left behind due to these decisions.”
Mr Long said his association had written to the Queensland government calling for rolling reviews.
“There effectively hasn’t been a change of advice from the beginning, we have called on them to move the decision forward given there is such a limited amount of community transmission and high testing rates elsewhere.
“Delaying any announcement at Christmas is effectively the nail in the coffin for a struggling industry.
“Fundamentally, we don’t believe an artificial deadline is an appropriate way of managing an economy in the midst of a health pandemic.
“They have the ability to regularly review activity every week, every fortnight – not only at the end of the month.”
However, Doctor Sonu Haikerwal and medical association boss Dr Philip Morris both erred on the side of caution.
“From a medical standpoint we need two cycles of no cases, that is 21 days, so essentially a month,” Dr Haikerwal said.
“It sounds like a long time but that is why we have been so successful in controlling the spread here. It is very frustrating, I have family in Melbourne who I would love to see but that is the clinical standpoint.”
Dr Morris said: “It is clearly frustrating. However, if the health advice suggests waiting for the review, it is better to be cautious.
“It is painful and people are losing money, but … they must make sure it is as safe as possible.”