Confusion reigns on messaging

THE message given to Townsville businesspeople by chief health officer Jeannette Young yesterday was quite confusing.

Ms Young was in Townsville with Health Minister Steven Miles to open up new renal health beds, something the Government should be applauded for, but it didn't take long for the questions to turn to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After Ms Young told Townsville people there could be no relaxation of strict lockdown laws and reopening of businesses until the region had 28 days coronavirus-free, something that hasn’t applied to southeast Queensland, yesterday the story changed.

Now the reason Townsville can’t open quicker than the rest of the state is due to the regions’ dependence on the city.

“You are such a big city … you imagine locking down your city and not letting anyone in or out, the harm that would do to the outlying communities that are dependent on you,“Ms Young said.

“I don’t think that is possible.”

It’s strange messaging because that’s exactly what has happened in Townsville until this weekend.

Residents have already been locked down, only able to travel 50km (this weekend 150km), a measure put in place by the State Government.

What businesspeople want is to be able to open again.

Currently businesses to the west of us are able to open with twice as many customers. Townsville businesses, however, continue to be lumped in with southeast Queensland.

It is possible to let regions work differently, there just needs to be the political will. State members Dale Last and Nick Dametto are backing Townsville. When will the others?