Annastacia Palaszczuk says Queensland's border will stay closed to Adelaide until the situation is reassessed next week, as the state prepares to welcome back Sydneysiders and Victorians tomorrow.
The premier said Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young asked her for more time to monitor to the outbreak.
"Dr Young has asked for another week to further assess the situation in South Australia and I will accept that advice," she said.
"We want to make sure everything is perfectly safe when we can lift those borders."
The premier also announced that from 1am tomorrow 100 people will be allowed to gather in public places.
Within private homes, the gathering limit of 50 people remains in place.
https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1333261112163196928The easing of restrictions comes as Queensland police begin dismantling their barricades on the state's border to New South Wales.
From 1am tomorrow, travellers from everywhere in Australia, except 20 local government areas of Adelaide, will be able to enter Queensland without a border declaration pass.
Gold Coast Superintendent Mark Wheeler said for the first time in 250 days police will not be required at checkpoints.
"All of the people from NSW and Victoria, provided you haven't been in a COVID-19 hotspot for the previous 14 days, post-1am, you'll be welcome to drive through," Mr Wheeler said.
"Police will not be checking border passes because you won't need one."
The removal of the border barriers has been long awaited by Queensland's tourism operators, who are preparing for an influx of visitors.
Greg Daven, who runs ballooning company Gold Coast Hot Air, told 9News he predicts booking numbers to rise in the next few weeks.
"We expect to see a bit of an upturn, almost immediately," he said.
"I'm hearing from friends of mine who have accommodation that they've already seen a surge in bookings from now until Christmas and into the New Year."
The decision to reopen Queensland's borders comes as the state launches a major tourism campaign to attract interstate visitors.
After keeping them locked out for nine months, Ms Palaszczuk told NSW and Victoria that "Queensland is Good to Go".
The state recorded no new coronavirus cases today, with 13 active cases currently in quarantine.
https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1333204024393306112from 9News https://ift.tt/2Veo2dx
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