Backing in border call

PM, hotels lobby behind fresh block

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk is blocking 5.3 million Sydneysiders from Queensland and warns the state could lock out all of NSW if coronavirus outbreaks worsen.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Queensland Hotels Association backed her call on Wednesday to close the border to Greater Sydney by Saturday.

NSW’s Campbelltown, Fairfield and Liverpool are already hot spots and those areas amount to a ban on 600,000. The looming new Greater Sydney block will see it almost rise 10-fold to 5.3 million.

“The next 24 to 48 hours is very crucial here in Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Asked what would tip her to reinstate a hard border closure with NSW, Ms Palaszczuk said more outbreaks of community transmission outside of Greater Sydney: “We are monitoring the situation in NSW every day. When the chief health officer advises the Queensland Government, advises myself, to close the border, we will.”

NSW had 19 new cases and Victoria – also a hot spot – had 295 added on Wednesday. Mr Morrison said: “If not in an outbreak zone, you do not want people moving to where you are otherwise you end up in a situation we have ended up in Victoria. It’s very sensible you limit people out of outbreak zones. I support that very strongly.”

QHA CEO Bernie Hogan said backing tougher measures was not a difficult stance, despite the giant economic hit.

Tightening the blockade was crucial to prevent a second lockdown on businesses within Queensland, which would be the last straw for embattled businesses, he said.

“You’ve got to base it on the health advice. It’s going to be very difficult for our accommodation members and our tourism industry to work on just the domestic market. It’s an obvious blow to them.

“As long as Queensland can remain open behind closed borders that’s a better outcome. Many businesses would not survive a second shutdown.

“It’s unfortunate but the health imperative overrules. No point us pushing to remain open and having a massive health crisis in Queensland.”

Destination Gold Coast’s Carla Anderson said the city welcomed 665,000 Sydneysiders in the 12 months to March and economic modelling showed coronavirus would cost the city tourism sector $3.3$4.3bn this year, with a potential loss of 6-9 million visitors.

Ms Anderson said blocking Sydney was a setback for recovery “which has made strong headway” – but health and safety was a top priority. A 60,000 strong tourism workforce was “the backbone to the city’s $6bn visitor economy”.

Destination Gold Coast chair Paul Donovan said: “We have to hit hard the intrastate stuff and drive market and make the best of it. It’s not a decision that sits lightly, I don’t like it but I can understand it. We will be relentless in pursuit of any opportunity to go after business.”

Aquaduck’s managing director Sarah Colgate, drawing a tenth of her usual trade, said the new border restrictions would leave her even more reliant on southeast Queenslanders holidaying at home.

She had already been forced to lay off 15 workers and was desperate to retain 11 which remain on JobKeeper.

She said her business was buoyed by homegrown adventurers in recent weeks, but the restrictions would see the limited number of NSW tourists booking tours nosedive.

Ms Colgate pleaded with Queenslanders and Gold Coasters, to back city operators and keep them ticking over.

“We’re very nervous. It’s our livelihood at stake. I understand the need to protect public health, I understand borders being closed but I don’t think there’s an economic plan for the future.”

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said: “Sydney is a key market and prior to COVID-19, Sydney-Gold Coast was the fourth busiest route in the country,” he said.

“We have seen a decline in passenger numbers since the first Sydney hot spots were declared, and we expect them to decrease further with today’s announcement.”

Flights between the Gold Coast and Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle and Townsville remain as scheduled.