‘Wake-up call’ timely for state

GOLD Coast medical advocate Dr Roger Halliwell says Victoria’s coronavirus outbreak is no “impediment” to the state’s July 10 border reopening “unless things go pear-shaped” in Queensland.

His comments come after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk refused to be drawn on whether Victoria’s coronavirus outbreak makes Queensland’s potential July 10 border date less likely.

Ms Palaszczuk said there were significant concerns about a second wave in Queensland, while repeating that authorities would reassess border restrictions at the end of the month.

Dr Halliwell, the chairman of Gold Coast Primary Health Network, said: “Victoria is a wake-up call to all of us in that it can go badly if people don’t do the right thing and go to work sick … and to this end it’s about ensuring Gold Coast’s testing rates increase, that people don’t go to work with a runny nose and that they stay at home until their COVID-19 result comes in.

“I can’t see any major impediments to a July 10 reopening, unless things go pearshaped, but it’s a balancing act by governments.”

Ms Palaszczuk claimed she hadn’t spoken to any states or territories about a separate travel bubble. Such a move, which would hypothetically allow Queenslanders to travel to certain states or territories but not others with community transmission such as Victoria, was touted in early June by Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles who revealed “some work” had been done on how it could work.

But at the time he conceded it was probably unlikely.

When Ms Palaszczuk was asked if she would discuss it with counterparts, she said: “The Prime Minister’s made it clear he doesn’t want that”.

It’s understood he does not favour it as he wants all borders open as soon as possible.