Queensland’s hard border with New South Wales will be back in place by tomorrow morning, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Monday afternoon.
The state’s hard border measures will take effect from 6am tomorrow, Tuesday, 22 December.
Hey Queenslanders 👋 Please visit our website for updated information and detailed FAQs about recent changes to our border restrictions 👉🗺️ https://t.co/33W2DCeP9t
— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) December 21, 2020
Speaking to the media on Monday afternoon, Palaszczuk said the state had decided to take swift action because people were doing the wrong thing.
“What we are seeing is that people are now reaching [Queensland] and being turned around, so there will be a hard border closure which will go in place.
“By 6am tomorrow it will be back to the strong border measures that we have seen in Queensland, that have kept Queenslanders safe.”
Barriers will return to the Queensland-New South Wales border by 6am tomorrow.
We’re concerned about people breaching the rules as they try to come into Queensland.
That’s why we’re treating this as a hard border closure with Greater Sydney. #covid19au
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) December 21, 2020
Palaszczuk said she believes that people who have recently travelled to Queensland from around Australia, including Sydney’s northern beaches, have not been tested for the virus. She encouraged accommodation providers to please remind guests to do the right thing.
“What I’m saying to accommodation providers is that if you have a guest on your register, if they have come from the northern beaches, please put something under their door or talk to them about going and getting a COVID test.
“Likewise, if you have friends or family who have come to Queensland, we are asking them to remind them to go and get a COVID test as well.
“We want to do everything we possibly can to make sure we do not get any community transmission here in Queensland.”
Queensland’s Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said borders will be shut to Sydney until at least January 8.
On Monday, six flights landed in Brisbane from Sydney, with 166 passengers placed into quarantine.
Anyone already in Queensland who has been in Greater Sydney since 11 December should get tested and quarantine until they receive their result.
Queensland only just reopened its borders to Greater Sydney on December 1.
