TATE: GIVE ME A DATE
Mayor backflips and issues Premier D-Day on border reopening
GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate is giving Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk a border reopening D-Day of tomorrow, saying it’s time to get “the economy going again”.
Just weeks after business operators accused him of “deserting” them for publicly backing the Premier’s stance to keep the borders closed, Cr Tate now says a reopening date must be set.
He said last weekend’s Black Lives Matter protests had moved the goal posts.
Virgin Australia has also significantly ramped up flights from July 13.
GOLD COAST Mayor Tom Tate is giving Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk a border reopening D-Day of tomorrow, saying it is time to get “the economy going again”.
Cr Tate, after a COVID-19 briefing from the Premier yesterday, told the Bulletin: “Things have changed since the Black Lives Matter demonstration and everyone is now asking when things will reopen.
“By Saturday if there are no positive cases in Queensland as a result, we need to start planning for restrictions to be lifted for us to be able to capture the school holiday traffic.”
Tens of thousands of protesters were allowed to rally in Brisbane and Byron Bay last weekend, prompting furious Glitter Strip operators to threaten to rebel and ignore crippling patron limits.
Cr Tate, accused by business operators of “deserting” them for publicly backing the Premier’s stance to keep the borders closed, now says a reopening date needs to be set.
“Virgin is already setting up flights and if an announcement is made I think you will see them packed. This is about getting the economy going again, it is about our livelihood and is about confidence," he said.
“Tourism dollars alone are not the only thing to come out of this, you will see people start to buy and sell homes again. Once they have confidence the wheel will start turning again.”
Cr Tate’s D-Day comes after tourism supremo Paul Donovan urged the State Government to “give us a date”, saying he was “confused and frustrated” by the border row.
Queensland Airports Ltd CEO Chris Mills yesterday warned the city is on the cusp of losing the school holidays influx from June 27-July 12.
“It looks increasingly likely we will miss out on the onceonly opportunity for school holiday uplift,’’ Mr Mills said.
“Every day that goes by means flight schedules get pushed back, people book elsewhere, and the Queensland economy takes longer to recover.”
Embattled Virgin Australia has ramped up flights into the Gold Coast, boosting its existing three flights a week to nine a day from July 13.
The extra capacity, available to book online, will be just after Stage 3 of the State Government’s road map to easing restrictions kicks in with interstate travel earmarked.
But Ms Palaszczuk has previously said reopening the border in July is “unlikely”, with Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young calling September “more realistic”.
Mr Mills said Virgin’s new flights available online “reinforces all airlines are keen to resume to the Gold Coast”.
“It continues to be the number one potential destination for the southern states seeking a break,” he said. “With ongoing uncertainty about the border opening, the airlines have to do their best to plan for when flights will resume.
“If the border is to be opened in July, we are asking for a date now. The airlines need certainty and sufficient lead time to prepare to resume operations, and potential visitors need time to plan and book a Gold Coast holiday.”
Ms Palaszczuk refused to budge on a border reopening date, sticking to her plan to review it at the end of the month.
“Airlines are putting on more flights, which is wonderful news. June is Queensland open for Queenslanders.
“July will definitely see more of Queensland opening. We will see more people in restaurants (and) cafes, more people in activities and at stadiums. July will be a very good month for Queenslanders if our health response continues.”
Asked if Virgin’s new scheduling meant interstate travel was set for July 10, she said: “Earlier this month Qantas and Jetstar announced new flights and it’s great news Virgin is too. It’s a great sign of confidence in our economic recovery plan.”
THIS IS ABOUT GETTING THE ECONOMY GOING AGAIN, IT IS ABOUT OUR LIVELIHOOD AND IS ABOUT CONFIDENCE
MAYOR TOM TATE
Burleigh MP Michael Hart said the Premier had a “lot of questions to answer”.
“Why is she not telling the people of Queensland the borders are going to be open, when it appears one of the biggest airlines thinks they will be?” Mr Hart said. “There’s 120 people on every flight – that’s over 1000 people a day who could be booked to come from Sydney to the Gold Coast.”
About four daily Melbourne-Gold Coast flight bookings are available from July 13. “I think (Virgin) knows something we don’t know. That’s my concern,” he said.
Queensland borders were closed on April 3 to halt spread of coronavirus.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland has predicted small business revenues could collapse by $27 billion during the June quarter.
CCIQ general manager of advocacy and policy Amanda Rohan said state businesses desperately needed the Government to ease restrictions and not wait for specific dates.
The Coast had one new case of coronavirus yesterday, a woman who flew in from Pakistan and was quarantined at Surfers Paradise hotel Voco.