Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has taken a personal swipe at the NSW Premier in a live television interview on Channel Nine this morning.
With news this week that the Queensland border will be reopened to the whole of NSW from December 1, host Allison Langdon asked Ms Palaszczuk if she had spoken to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and if “anyone had said sorry”.
The pair have had a publicly frosty relationship during the pandemic, with the NSW Premier regularly left frustrated by a seeming a lack of communication and clarity over the Sunshine State’s changing rules around COVID-19 hotspots and public health rules.
“Gladys is being Gladys, I expect that,” the Queensland Premier scoffed on Today.
“I’ve always handled myself with dignity. She’ll always look after her state and I’ll always look after my state.”
The Premier went on to respond to widespread criticism she has received during the border closures, saying she was simply putting the needs of her state first.
“You have to put the needs of your state first.”
“I’ve lost a grandmother and an uncle during this pandemic… I know the personal toll it has taken on families it’s very distressing and I understand that completely.”
The Premier confirmed that NSW residents will no longer need border passes to enter Queensland from December 1, while for South Australian residents, the matter was still under review.
“Hopefully it’ll be open borders, but we need to check on South Australia at end of month before making that decision.”
“But fingers crossed the border checkpoints will go December 1.”
“It’s great news for families…it’s been a really tough year for everybody.”
