- The Prime Minister is calling for a consistent range of border measures — designed to stop the spread of COVID-19 — to be adopted by all of the states and territories
- Scott Morrison argues some services and supply chains are being impacted by the different border controls in place in Queensland and NSW
- Queensland has closed its border to all of NSW and the ACT, after an uptick in COVID-19 cases
- South Australia has also shut its border with Victoria, cracking down on the number of exemptions it issues
- While WA and Tasmania have remained staunch in keeping its borders closed to everyone, with mandatory quarantine measures in place
The Prime Minister is pushing to have a more consistent range of COVID-19 border closure restrictions adopted by all of the states and territories of Australia.
Scott Morrison argues the current varied approach is impacting supply chains and farming services, who are struggling to move goods between states.
The PM took aim at Queensland in particular after the state declared all of NSW and the ACT a coronavirus hotspot and closed its borders to them.
“The time-sensitive nature of many facets of agricultural production and supply chains directly impacts our ability to meet consumer demand for Australian products, both in supermarkets around the nation and in high-value export destinations,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a letter to Queensland officials.
The Prime Minister is now seeking consistent border closure agreements from all states and territories, sending letters to the leaders of NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
Currently, each Government has implemented its own range of measures to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus. The measures all vary, with WA and Tasmania the most strict of all the jurisdictions.
In both of these states, only exempt people can return to the state and only after quarantining for two weeks. Anyone returning from NSW or Victoria is unlikely to be granted entry, as the areas are considered hotspots for COVID-19.
South Australia has similarily strict border controls in place, however, its shared border with Victoria has caused issues. Previously, cross border community members were allowed to travel between the two jurisdictions, but now only ‘essential’ travellers can.
South Australia has also labelled NSW and the ACT as coronavirus hotspots, meaning anyone who travels into the state from those areas must self-quarantine for two weeks.
NSW is allowing visitors, however, it banned Victorians from travelling into the state without a valid exemption. The Northern Territory is also open to travel too, but Victorians and Sydney residents must pay to self-quarantine upon arrival.
Queensland has even stricter measures in place for NSW and the ACT, only allowing exempt travellers from those jurisdictions entry. The state has also stopped allowing anyone from Victoria cross the border for some weeks now.
“We will put the safety of Queenslanders first and we do not have any intentions of opening any borders while there is community transmission active in Victoria and NSW,” Queensland Premier Annastasia Palaszczuk said.
Her call is echoed by the WA and Tasmanian Governments, who’ve maintained strict border closures throughout the pandemic despite calls from the PM to have borders re-opened.