Opinion
State border shutdowns are inconsistent, confusing and counter-productive, argues epidemiologist Catherine Bennett. The chaos of Victoria’s New Year closure to NSW shows there must be a better way.
News
Premier Steven Marshall says the state’s emergency powers “don’t lend themselves particularly well to a pandemic” but says it’s unlikely the current state of emergency will be rescinded while border closures remain a regular feature of South Australian life.
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South Australian authorities have moved to clarify rules for people arriving from Sydney as new COVID-19 restrictions come into force after confusion at Adelaide Airport and at border checkpoints, prompting an apology from Police Commissioner and state coordinator Grant Stevens.
South Australia has updated its border requirements for visitors from greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong after NSW’s coronavirus cluster jumped to 70 cases, with checkpoints set up to test people for COVID-19 at NSW road border crossings and at Adelaide Airport.
Qantas has suffered a $100 million hit to its first quarter earnings after several states closed their borders in July in response to Victoria’s coronavirus outbreak.
The agency responsible for enforcing Australia’s international borders is pushing back against growing calls to establish a federal quarantine facility for returning travellers.
Queensland’s chief health officer admits death threats and online trolling have taken “an enormous toll” on her but she will maintain strict quarantine measures to protect the state from COVID-19.
