Queensland to open border to all of NSW next month as Sydney brings coronavirus outbreak under control

Queensland’s Premier did not warn NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian of the border changes.(AAP: Dave Hunt/James Gourley)

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that the state’s border with NSW will open on February 1, in a decision that the NSW Premier says has come as a relief.

It means Greater Sydney will no longer be declared a hotspot and millions of residents across 35 local government areas will be able to enter Queensland from Monday without undergoing mandatory hotel quarantine.

It comes after New South Wales yesterday recorded 10 consecutive days of no locally acquired coronavirus cases.

“Credit to New South Wales. They got on top of their cases,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Our Chief Health Officer was delighted last night when she briefed me and I think it’s great news.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was not contacted by Ms Palaszczuk about the changes.

She was informed by a Sydney radio host while doing a separate interview at the same time Ms Palaszczuk unveiled her plans on TV.

Ms Berejiklian said she was not bothered by the blindside, instead she is “very happy and very relieved”.

“The important thing is that the right outcome is achieved,” she said.

“We haven’t had a hotspot in NSW for a while and even if we do, the whole state doesn’t need to suffer.

“I hope this brings a lot of joy and relief to people and that people are reunited. That’s my wish for them.”

Some NSW residents have been shut out of Queensland since December 21.

As of Monday, Queensland will no longer have any declared coronavirus hotspots with any other states or territories.

It comes as the state recorded one new case of coronavirus overnight, a person who is in hotel quarantine.

Ms Berejiklian also announced yesterday a raft of restrictions would be eased on the Greater Sydney region as authorities said the virus may have been eliminated following several clusters over summer.

Ms Berejiklian has long been a vocal opponent of border closures, saying they should always be “a last option”.

Her Government has been especially critical of Queensland’s handling of border restrictions during the pandemic, particularly when medical care for border residents was impacted, with her comments angering Ms Palaszczuk multiple times.

‘Come to Cairns’

Ms Palaszczuk acknowledged the border closure had been difficult for many.

“It has been a really, really long haul, and it has been tough on everybody, but I’ve always maintained, I have to keep Queenslanders safe,” she said.

“It’s a great time for families to be reunited, but also, too, for people to plan their holidays, and I’m here in Cairns at the moment. They’re really feeling it at the moment.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she would continue to monitor the state’s border status going forward.

“I think what we’ve seen is the hotspot program has been working very well, especially when we had the lockdown in Greater Brisbane, where I put to the National Cabinet that everyone else should declare greater Brisbane a hotspot because I did.”

Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said there would be no more borders and no more declaration passes, “but we’ll be ready if there’s another outbreak”.

“We’re all starting to see a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel with the role out of the vaccine imminent,” he said.

“I know there’s nowhere else I’d rather be on the globe at the moment — we’re going pretty well.”

Nathan Irving runs the Greenmount Kiosk on the southern Gold Coast and said while the closure was tough on business, he had a strong holiday trading period.

“When they get more cases they’ll have to close it down again,” he said.

“I don’t want anyone that comes here to the kiosk or anyone in my family to have it, so if they can keep it safe, keep it safe.

“In the meantime’ let’s open it all up and get back to normal trading.

“You beauty.”