QLD premier's awkward blunder in new tourism campaign
Queensland’s borders are set to reopen to visitors from NSW and Victoria in a matter of weeks so it’s understandable the state government would want to spruik the sunshine state’s picturesque beaches.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk posted a photo on Instagram on Friday promoting “Gold Coast play money vouchers”, which will hopefully encourage people to enjoy the glitter strip.
But there’s only one problem: the beach the premier used is actually not on the Gold Coast.
In fact, it’s not even in Queensland.
The post used a photo of Duranbah Beach which is in Tweed Heads, NSW. It’s not far from the Gold Coast but still – wrong state, wrong beach.
The post has since been removed.
A spokesperson for the state government told The Courier-Mail the picture was “posted in error” and the paper reported it was taken down after the publication pointed this out.
Manager of Opposition Business Jarrod Bleijie told the paper the post was a “sheer embarrassment”.
The premier last month outlined plans for reopening Queensland’s borders.
Queensland is scheduled to reach 70 per cent fully vaccinated by November 19.
If that goal is reached, people from NSW and Victoria who are fully vaccinated will be able to enter the sunshine state. They will, however, need to be fully vaccinated, return a negative test within 72 hours of departure and have to undergo home quarantine for 14 days.
Visitors can also only enter the state by air and not by the roads at 70 per cent.
At 80 per cent, which is believed to be a week out from Christmas, visitors will be able to enter Queensland by road, and international arrivals will be permitted, as long as they are fully vaccinated and have returned a negative Covid test in the previous 72 hours prior to arrival.
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