'I'm sick of it': Premier hits out at critics, reveals strict new border rule
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has hit out at critics of her state’s border policies during the coronavirus pandemic.
The premier announced on Tuesday that Queensland will reopen its borders to Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory and ACT on July 10.
Borders with Victoria, however, will remain closed as Ms Palaszczuk said she still has “very large concerns” about the state.
Anyone travelling from Victoria to Queensland will be placed in hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own expense from Friday at 12pm.
Criticised for not reopening borders sooner, Ms Palaszczuk has seemed to be at odds with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian during the coronavirus crisis.
“I’ve been quietly having a gibe at all of my state colleagues who have their borders shut. NSW didn’t, Victoria didn’t,” Ms Berejiklian told Sky News last month.
“The sooner we can do that the better.”
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The Queensland Premier responded saying, “you will have to wait a little longer”.
On Tuesday Ms Palaszczuk said “the border wars have got to stop”.
“I think a national leader should have been able to bring all of the states and territories together,” the premier said.
“Frankly, I'm a bit sick that Queensland has been singled out as opposed to South Australia, and Tasmania, just to name a few.”
Tasmania has had strict border restrictions throughout the pandemic with Premier Peter Gutwein announcing on Friday the island intends to ease them in four weeks, depending on public health advice.
South Australia only recently reopened its borders to Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
‘I’ve been silent for a long time’: Premier speaks out
Ms Palaszczuk said if Victoria had been “almost self-quarantined or quarantined”, then Mr Morrison could have set a date for all of the other states and territories once Victoria was under control.
“At the moment, what we have is a bit of a confrontation where fights are being picked at different states and, frankly, I don't think it's good enough,” she said.
“I've been silent for a long time and I will not be silenced for standing up for what I believe to be right, for the health advice that I'm being provided for by Dr (Jeanette) Young (Queensland’s Chief Health Officer).”
The premier added Dr Young’s advice “has put Queensland in a very good position”.
“We're not out of it yet. We know that,” she said.
Queensland reported no new coronavirus cases on Tuesday.
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