NSW-Qld Border Zone to open up for cross-border travel by all zone residents from 17 December 2021 - with conditions

Tweed Daily News online, 19 November 2021:

As of December 17, anyone entering Queensland from a declared hot spot will be required to have a border pass, be fully vaccinated and have a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours.

NSW, Victoria and the ACT are currently considered hot spots by Queensland.

Medicare covers the costs of a Covid-19 test for anyone experiencing symptoms however the tests are not covered for travel purposes.

Residents who live in the border zone, which extends south to the Clarence Valley and out to the western boundary of NSW, are permitted to cross into Queensland for work and volunteering with a single vaccine jab requirement.

NED-4769 Queensland's Roadmap to Freedom

Crossing is also permitted for health, essential shopping and providing care for border zone residents.

However it remains unclear how the negative Covid-19 test will be feasible for border residents, especially the estimated 16,000 who cross daily for work.

Cross Border Commissioner James McTavish said he had repeatedly requested advice on the expected conditions for cross border residents regarding the issues.

“The Queensland Government is yet to provide that advice,” Mr McTavish said.

“We’d like to see full vaccinated people exempted from the testing requirement entirely if they are from the border region.

“If the testing regime is enforced, it should be free for border residents.”

He said advice was also sought about how the Queensland Government planned to manage traffic and conditions ahead of the 80 per cent mark.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said there would be a border zone in place to ensure all border zone residents, regardless of vaccination status, could continue to enter Queensland for essential purposes once the border opened in December, without the need to meet the traveller testing requirements.

“There may be less testing requirements for fully vaccinated people entering the border zone or entering Queensland from the border zone for non-essential reasons,” she said.

“We are continuing to work through the specific requirements for the 80 per cent vaccination milestone.

“Detailed information will be made public when available.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was questioned in parliament on Thursday night about residents being asked to fork out $150 for a Covid-19 test and why the state would not cover the cost.

“These are really strict requirements and I make no apology for them being strict because we are keeping Queenslanders safe,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Acting chief health officer Peter Aitken on Friday said it would be a challenge to force Queensland visitors to fork out $150 for a Covid-19 test.

Dr Aitken said health authorities were considering scrapping the requirement or making the test free.

“We recognise that... enormous challenge for people, for police, and it’s a discussion we’re having as to ensuring that double-vaccinated people have greater access,” he said.

 

Tweed and Byron Bay local government areas removed from Qld 'border bubble' as of 1am Wednesday, 22 September 2021. Ballina, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley to remain in bubble - for now - with updated restrictions

 

AAP General News Wire, 21 September 2021:

Byron and Tweed shire residents in NSW will only be allowed to enter Queensland for essential work and limited essential purposes from 1am on Wednesday.

Queensland will remove Byron Bay and Tweed Heads from the border bubble after the NSW government ordered those shires into a seven-day COVID-19 lockdown.

The state government says Byron and Tweed shire residents will only be allowed to enter Queensland for essential work, emergency volunteering and other limited essential purposes from 1am on Wednesday.

Previously they had been allowed to cross into Queensland for work, education, compassionate care or essential shopping, provided they've had one vaccine dose.

The announcement comes as NSW moved to lock down Byron and Tweed from 5pm on Tuesday after a COVID-19 case was infectious in both shires last week.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had foreshadowed changes to the border bubble earlier on Tuesday.

"The concern is, of course, if there are cases in northern NSW," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters.

"That will present a real risk to the southern parts of the Gold Coast, where I have thousands of families holidaying on the Gold Coast at the moment."

Removing Byron and Tweed from the bubble has complicated interstate travel for other border zone residents further south.

For Ballina, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley shires residents the most direct route to Queensland is via Byron and Tweed.

Queensland Health said people entering the state from non-restricted border zone local government areas in NSW can do so if they transit through Byron and Tweed without stopping, in a private vehicle, in under two hours…….

Queensland Health, media release, 21 September 2021

Updated border restrictions for northern NSW

Increased border restrictions will be reinstated for the local government areas (LGA) of Byron Shire and Tweed Shire, as New South Wales announce an increased COVID-19 public health risk.

Byron and Tweed LGAs will become part of the restricted New South Wales border zone from 1am Wednesday 22 September.

Border zone residents who have been to Byron and Tweed LGAs will only be allowed into Queensland for limited essential purposes.

Queensland residents may only return to Queensland if they have entered a restricted area for limited essential purposes.

Those entering Queensland from a non-restricted LGA, who must transit through a restricted LGA, can do so if they transit, without stopping, using private transport for no more than two hours.

To enter Queensland from an LGA within the border zone you must:

• complete a Queensland entry pass

• get tested if you develop any COVID-19 symptoms after arriving in Queensland

• monitor the list of interstate exposure venues daily (at least once every 24 hours) from the time you complete a declaration and for 14 days after arriving in Queensland

• comply with face mask requirements.

Anyone who is currently in Queensland but has visited the area in the past 14 days should get tested if they have symptoms and isolate until they receive a negative result.

We will continue to monitor the situation in New South Wales and review restrictions as the situation evolves.

For more information about the border restrictions, visit www.qld.gov.au/health/covid19/update.

Public Health Alert – new exposure sites at Brisbane Airport

A public health alert is being issued for contact tracing locations at the Brisbane Domestic Airport after a previously confirmed positive case transited from New South Wales to the Northern Territory, via Brisbane.

The case was infectious on the flight to Brisbane, a flight from Brisbane to Northern Territory and while within the airport on 17 September 2021.

Please contact Northern Territory health authorities for specific information relating to this case.

We are asking all Queenslanders to regularly monitor the list of exposure venues on the Queensland Health website and follow the public health advice, as there may be more locations.

Contact tracing venues can be found at https://www.health.qld.gov.au/tracing.

A reminder for all Queenslanders – if you have any COVID-19 symptoms at any time, no matter how mild, you should immediately get tested for COVID-19.

ENDS