Annastacia Palaszczuk has been accused of destroying livelihoods and causing chaos over the state’s border closure and her government’s handling of the Nathan Turner case.
The embattled Queensland Premier is facing an uprising from desperate tourism operators who are demanding she opens the state’s borders so they can rescue their businesses from ruin after coronavirus lockdown.
Shadow minister for tourism David Crisafulli told Daily Mail Australia the Premier has ‘pulled the rug from under the feet’ of business owners and caused mass confusion by failing to decide when the border can open.
At the same time, Ms Palaszczuk – who faces an election in five months – is copping heavy criticism after her government caused mass panic in an Outback town by declaring 30-year-old miner Nathan Turner had died of coronavirus only to later find out he was not infected.
Annastacia Palaszczuk has been accused of destroying livelihoods and causing chaos over the state’s border closure and her government’s bungled handling of the Nathan Turner case
The embattled Queensland Premier is facing an uprising from desperate tourism operators who are demanding she opens the state’s borders so they can rescue their businesses from ruin after coronavirus lockdown. Pictured: Port Douglas
Some opponents are linking the two crises, claiming that Mr Turner’s death helped Ms Palaszczuk justify her border closure by fitting her narrative that Queensland’s battle with the virus was far from over.
Mr Turner died in the town of Blackwater on May 26. A swab taken after his death tested positive for coronavirus but a second came back negative.
Further examinations last night confirmed Mr Turner did not have the virus.
There is no suggestion that Ms Palaszczuk knew Mr Turner did not have coronavirus. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Queensland Premier’s office for comment.
Meanwhile, Mr Crisafulli slammed the premier over her borders policy, which is is costing businesses on the Gold Coast alone as much as $310million a month.
Ms Palaszczuk has justified her border closure by saying there are too many cases of the virus in NSW and Victoria. But New South Wales has not had a single case of community transmission since May 27.
On Tuesday morning three major protests took place on the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Cairns as businesses owners demanded open borders.
‘People want to see a mature balance between protecting their health and protecting their economy – both factors have to be weighed up and both have a health outcome,’ Mr Crisafulli said.
Ms Palaszczuk’s refusal to open the border, against the advice of federal health experts and despite the pleas of NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has earned her comparisons to fellow Labor Premier Daniel Andrews, who is accused of holding back the economy by relaxing rules too slowly in Victoria.
Victorian Liberals label him ‘Chairman Dan’ – after former Chinese Communist Party leader Chairman Mao – while Ms Palaszczuk has been dubbed ‘comrade’ by some of her critics.
Motorists are stopped at a checkpoint on the Gold Coast Highway at Coolangatta
Mr Crisafulli accused the premier of failing to give businesses certainty.
‘The biggest criticism for me is the mixed messages, moving goalposts and the confusion,’ he said.
‘The industry was given a date of 10 July by the government’s roadmap and they were all gearing up for that date.
‘That announcement was made on the 8 May. Then, ten days later, it was all taken away from them when the Premier said the borders may stay closed until September.
‘In those ten says the health situation improved, the desire to get back to business increased but hard-working Queenslanders had the rug pulled out from under their feet.’
‘Businesses here need to have the ability to open in July so they can try to make a buck during the winter weather in the southern states.’
Various theories have been put forward to explain the Premier’s change of heart.
Some say she is pitting Queensland against New South Wales for her own political gain with the state election in October.
Another theory claims that, when asked about the border during a live interview with the ABC, she accidentally said ‘September’ instead of July and has since run with the error rather than hold her hands up.
Mr Crisafulli said: ‘No-one cares how this happened, they just want to see the right result.
‘If there has been a change in the health advice, people need to know. If not, then I just want to see the government honour its commitment.’
Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has also slammed the government over the border closure.
‘The Palaszczuk Labor Government cannot even agree among themselves when the border will re-open,’ she said.
Nathan Turner’s family demanded an apology from the Queensland government after he was declared ‘Australia’s youngest COVID-19 victim’ only for an autopsy to reveal he never had the virus
Ms Palaszczuk’s refusal to open the border has earned her comparisons to fellow Labor Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured), who is accused of holding back the economy relaxing rules too slowly in Victoria
‘The Chief Medical Officer says July and the Premier says September.
‘The Tourism Minister was reportedly shocked to learn of the Premier’s September timetable - and she wasn’t the only one.
‘Queensland’s tourism sector has been stunned by Labor’s border shambles. There is a slim booking window open right now and the Premier is slamming it shut.
‘Tourists won’t plan a holiday in Queensland if they don’t even know the border will be open.
‘Queensland could lose millions of tourists and tens of thousands of jobs because of the chaos caused by the Premier’s mixed messages.’
Last night Ms Palaszczuk apologised to Mr Turner’s family over the fiasco in Blackwater.
She said: ‘Of course we are very sorry for the distress the family is going through at the moment.
‘I really want to say to the family that we’re incredibly sorry that that has happened.
‘To the family I know that is still grieving and I don’t want them to be stressed anymore, I know it is a very tough time for them but we do know that the coroner made that finding yesterday and we accept that finding.’
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said today: ‘Our ability to control this virus requires us to respond rapidly to every single positive test.
‘We have to treat every positive test as though it is a positive case.’
The cause of Mr Turner’s death is under investigation.
Sea World Cruises general manager Anthony Ardern is taking part in the ‘toot for tourism’ campaign on Tuesday leading tour operators on a car protest through central Surfers Paradise