Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced today (Thursday, 13 January) that the Queensland NSW border would no longer require a border pass or a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) from 1am 15 January to domestically cross ‘into Queensland, either by our road or by air’.
The announcement comes as Queensland approaches the 90 per cent double vaccination for residents aged over 16 years target. The current double vaccination rate stands at 88 per cent.
Newly re-elected Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry has welcomed today’s announcement by the Queensland Government to open its domestic borders from Saturday.
Councillor Cherry said the news would be a welcome relief for residents, families and small businesses of the Tweed and wider border communities who are doing it so tough at present.
‘The past 2 years have been incredibly difficult for all people across much of Australia, and particularly here on the NSW-QLD border where our communities are so interwoven,’ Cr Cherry said.
‘We are relieved the border will finally come down so our residents, families and small businesses, who have suffered so much under the lengthy border restrictions, will have one less stress to worry about while they grapple with the rising COVID-19 outbreak which is currently sweeping across our community.
‘We thank everyone for their patience and perseverance while we work through these difficult times together and are grateful we no longer have to worry about crossing the border from Saturday.’
Cr Cherry paid special thanks to NSW Cross Border Commissioner James McTavish and his team, for their tireless advocacy on border issues and his willingness to work with herself and other members of the bipartisan Cross Border Taskforce over recent months.
Comprised of members from both the NSW and Queensland Parliaments, the taskforce met regularly since mid-2021 to advocate on behalf of the border community.
Members on the Taskforce included Tweed MP Geoff Provest (Nationals), Lismore MP Janelle Saffin (Labor), Ballina MP Tamara Smith (Greens), NSW MLC Catherine Cusack (Liberal), Currumbin MP Laura Gerber (QLD Liberal National Party), Burleigh MP Michael Hart (QLD Liberal National Party) and Mayor of Tweed Shire, Chris Cherry (independent).
‘Setting partisan politics aside, the Taskforce issued public statements and lobbied behind the scenes towards better outcomes for residents of the border communities on issues including border passes, a border bubble, a regional roadmap to recovery, public health order breaches and vaccine mandates,’ said Cr Cherry.
The Tweed is doing it tough because of a virus, that the NSW premier let loose from Sydney
Maybe put the blame where it belongs.
We’re all going to get it spread through the country. The sooner the better and life can go on as normal instead of all these ridiculous mandates and lockdowns. Businessess, schools, hospitals are all sufffering. Vaxx status cannot be relied upon as covid infection control as it doesnt work, and trying to rely on outvaxxing this virus is negligent.
The sooner the better? Tell this story to the wrung out hospital staff working double shifts trying to manage the exponential growth in admissions. Tell it to the people who have had their “elective” surgeries cancelled, to the women in this area who have had breast screen appointments cancelled due to the impact on the region of Omicron and to the people who have had their treatments for serious limited by definitions of elective.
The most ridiculous situation that in the end achieved nothing. Such a selfish and shameful act from that woman who’s only platform is fear and inciting hate.
Anastasia? Achieved nothing – you’re kidding right? How many lives were saved by the Queensland government holding out against outrageous partisan attacks and keeping the community free from the raging NSW Delta outbreak, while the same attacking government was diverting vaccines to Sydney?
How many businesses and lives were able to carry on as normal in Queensland while hubris in NSW led to lockdown?
Borders have worked to at least allow time to get the vaccination rates up before exposing the population. Just look what has happened now all over the country – with the exception of WA that is (funny that). And after all this was the national plan as pushed by Scotty and adopted by national cabinet.
Sure, separating families is tragic – I’ve experienced plenty of this myself – but so too is losing family members who you’ll NEVER see again. There are two sides to border closures and in a pandemic we don’t get to have it every way.
If you want to “bucket” the Queensland Labor government make sure you also mention TAS and SA – who I’d also applaud. They had the same approach, they just copped a lot less flack from the likes of Scotty, Dutton, Hunt and Frydenberg.
Any State sharing a border with the NSW LNP is doomed? Over 50 Australians dying per day now! This is now a Morrison/Perrottet health disaster that could easily have been prevented. West Australia who’s Premier has stated on record that he does the opposite of whatever Morrison and the NSW LNP do, has not one person in hospital! Meanwhile we have evangelical fundamentalist Hillsong having a super spreader event in Newcastle oblivious to any health concern? You cannot make this up, Morrison LNP Coalition of Catastrophe must be removed at this coming election.
Dennis – do you really think the virus originated in Sydney? Have you heard of Wuhan?
Interesting. I left a message last night that didn’t bucket on the Libs and it’s not published….hmmmm….wonder why?!?!
I live near the border and the area at Coolangatta/Tweed is now a part of Australias history and synonmymous of two things – the place of grief over families and divided loved ones and also the Eureka spirit of defiance against lockdowns, restrictions and mandates.