Qld premier to take border issues to Scott Morrison at National Cabinet
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she would …. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius PickardSource:News Corp australia
Desk report:
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will hold further discussions with the Prime Minister over his request the state’s border restrictions be softened, as she announced plans to safeguard the state’s future.
It comes as Queensland records no new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, after 7728 tests were carried out. There are only seven active cases remaining.
Three residents of a Sunshine Coast nursing home have returned negative results but one test is still pending.
In a letter sent by Mr Morrison to Ms Palaszczuk, he pleaded for “critical” border changes, warning farming services and supply chains were at risk of being “unnecessarily or unintentionally” impeded by border restrictions.
According to a Courier Mail report, Mr Morrison used “strong language” as he warned it was “critical the movement of people, products and services impacting agricultural production be as streamlined as possible.
Ms Palaszczuk said she was happy to have further discussions at national cabinet.
Ms Palaszczuk was at an Inala warehouse this morning, housing 10,000 crates, or 120 million pieces of personal protective equipment.
“We are doing absolutely everything we need to do in case we have a COVID outbreak,” she said.
“We are making sure we have the PPE stockpiles we have in case we are to see an outbreak.
“Dr Young was preparing for an eventual pandemic long before it … hit our shores.”
Deputy premier Steven Miles said he wanted to ensure no healthcare professionals ever lost sleep again about a potential shortage of PPE.
“We want to have it ready if there is an outbreak, or some other reason the global supply chain is disrupted we have what we need,” he said.
“One day there will be another pandemic … we want to be prepared for that.”
Ms Palaszczuk said all premiers had received a “very generic” letter from the Prime Minister, talking about health, freight and healthcare.
Last week Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said regional communities continue to be impacted by the border lockdowns.
“Unless there’s leadership by Annastacia Palaszczuk there will be real pressure on prices at the supermarket,” Mr Littleproud said.
“No one is asking the Premier to pull down the border restrictions, just show some compassion and common sense.”
