Queensland will finally reopen its border to NSW residents on Tuesday – but Sydneysiders are still banned from entering the sunshine state.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had planned to open up the state up to NSW on Sunday, but today announced that she would push the date back to Tuesday and added that residents from all of Sydney’s 32 local government areas were not permitted to enter Queensland, again citing the health advice of her Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young.
“Keeping Queensland safe is also keeping our economy open and I will not risk the safety of Queenslanders,” Ms Palaszczuk said on the state’s election eve.
Sydney recorded four cases of locally acquired coronavirus yesterday, with contact tracing underway for one case that’s not related to a current Sydney cluster.
She said NSW residents – who had not visited Greater Sydney – in the last fortnight would be permitted to enter Queensland from 1am on November 3.
“I have reviewed the situation in NSW and prior to yesterday they had four LGAs in Sydney that had had cases of community transmission that NSW was unable to link to any known clusters, which means that they have transmission and they don’t know where it is coming from,” Dr Young said
She suggested the use of a crystal ball may when asked when Sydneysiders would be allowed to cross the contentious Queensland border.
The Premier said she had taken Dr Young’s health advice “lock, stock and barrel”.
“I know it’s very tough for our tourism industry and that is why we have provided so much support,” said the Premier.
