Time to tear down Checkpoint Anna

By contrast many Queenslanders, through no fault of their own, have lost hours of work, had their pay reduced, lost their jobs, or have had to close their businesses. Furthermore, young Queenslanders face an increasingly uncertain future with lost employment opportunities, while simultaneously being burdened with more debt the Palaszczuk Government continues to rack up.

The decision to keep Queensland’s borders shut seems to be more motivated by politics in an election year than sound policy based on acting in the public interest. They have been assisted by a largely ineffectual and invisible opposition, who have failed to provide an alternative narrative. The Premier and her Ministers have done a good job tapping into good old Queensland parochialism and turning the border issue into a State of Origin contest. It is difficult not to take this view when Treasurer Cameron Dick employs rhetoric such as “We will decide who comes into our state and when they will come” or Transport Minister Mark Bailey states “We won’t be lectured to by the worst-performing state in Australia.” It is rhetoric that I am sure Sir Joh would be proud of. Or even President Trump.

It is time however for the Premier to look beyond George Street and the inner-city cliques and open Queensland's borders to the rest of Australia. This would provide a much-needed confidence boost for the Queensland economy while providing a glimmer of hope to many Queenslanders, particularly in the regions, who have already lost much or are just about hanging on. It would demonstrate that the Palaszczuk government genuinely understands and cares about the future prosperity and well-being of this great state and its citizens. It would show confidence in the state’s health care system to manage any potential COVID-19 outbreaks. Finally it would show trust in fellow Queenslanders and Australians to use their common sense and to maintain healthy practices and sensitive social distancing.

To evoke a Reaganism — “Premier Palaszczuk, tear down these walls!”