DECISION THEN DISASTER – AND REPEAT
ANOTHER day, another decision – and another shocking lack of forethought for the impact or readiness of the decision. The Queensland state government flip-flopped again on Wednesday morning. In the face of mounting pressure, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tweeted she was ditching the need for interstate travellers and returning Queenslanders to show evidence of a negative PCR test for Covid 72 hours prior to re-entry. It kicks in from January 1 when quicker, cheaper, self-use and less reliable Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) will be approved for entry. Good luck finding one.
A comprehensive ring around by staff at this newspaper of chemists, supermarkets and other outlets stocking them such as convenience stores came up empty. The government’s move was hailed as a tourism win – but in the same breath, concern arose that RAT availability is going to render the decision redundant in the short-term until supply catches up.
A day earlier, the government flipflopped again and axed the need for interstate arrivals to have to get a Covid PCR test on day five of their visit. Immediate cheers rang out from interminable test clinic queues around the Gold Coast.
The Queensland state government’s opening of the border on December 13 was preceded by much fanfare about how it would spark the tourism influx this city desperately needed.
But then, uh-oh, que the queues. Visitors looking forward to a relaxing time amid the sun, sand and shoreline the Gold Coast is famous for ended up having the experience marred by, in some cases, up to six-hour testing clinic waits on day five of what for many will be their first holiday away in years. Incredulously, Ms Palaszczuk remarked in the midst of it that no one could have anticipated 400,000 travellers from interstate hotspots would apply to come to Queensland.
Borders open. Not enough testing clinic capacity. She still hasn’t told us how many she was expecting.
PCR test requirements axed. The alternative RAT okayed. Scarcely any available to buy to meet the new rule.
And now the lingering requirement to quarantine if a close contact of a Covid case – or wait for days for results of Covid tests – is hamstringing hospitality venues to the point some are closing for what is meant to be their time of year to make hay in lieu of the quieter shoulder seasons. It seems changes are in the offing here – Qld chief health officer John Gerrard got in ahead of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s national cabinet today and said Qld will only focus on household close contacts of Covid cases. That may – just – provide time for under-pressure hospitality teams to give us a New Year’s Eve.