New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging the other Australian states to open their borders to kickstart the tourism industry and allow interstate travel.
NSW leaders want to see the state borders re-open so domestic travel can begin again as there is a serious concern for economic losses.
‘I’ve been quietly having a jibe at all my state colleagues who have their borders shut,’ Ms Berejiklian told Sky News on Sunday morning.
‘NSW didn’t, Victoria didn’t. We appreciate the key to our economic success will be to improve our supply chains and our manufacturing base among Australia.’
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging Queensland to open its borders to kickstart the tourism industry and allow interstate travel
A group of women dressed up to celebrate a birthday with a picnic spread in New Farm Park in Brisbane (pictured on Saturday) as restrictions were lifted over the weekend
NSW leaders want to see the state borders re-open so domestic travel can begin again as there is a serious concern for economic losses (A deserted Sydney Airport pictured)
The premier said that with tourism being a leading industry in the country, Australians need to be pushed to travel domestically as less people are coming from overseas.
Ms Berejiklian is urging for the borders to come down as soon as possible, saying there is ‘enormous potential’ in having Australians explore their homeland.
‘Imagine if we had more of our 25 million population visiting places around Australia? That is enormous potential,’ she said.
‘The sooner we can do that the better, in a safe way. The sooner the borders come down the better and I’m certainly looking forward to that.
‘I don’t want to be able to say to people I am allowed to go to Auckland before I can go to Brisbane and before I can go to Perth … just that trade and commerce and flexible workforce across the states will boost our economy no end.
‘I would really like to see those borders come down.’
Other NSW leaders have had a jab at Queensland’s decision to leave the state closed off from the rest of the country.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro dubbed the decision as ‘ridiculous’ while Treasurer Dominic Perrottet slammed the state for not accepting NSW residents.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles retaliated to the criticism and said the borders were going to remain closed until health advice changed.
‘We know Sydney can be dreary but hang in there,’ Mr Miles said.
Alex Whitehead (pictured, left), Willem Stewart (centre) and Jack Keegan (right) are seen playing a game in New Farm Park in Brisbane on Saturday
Fitness fans in Brisbane on Saturday (pictured) after restrictions were lifted, but widespread testing it still underway
NSW is relying on tourism, trade and business activity from Queenslanders to stimulate growth in the economy, Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Last year Queenslanders spent a total of 17,000 nights in NSW and provided the state with $3.4billion, according to figures compiled by Tourism Research Australia.
NSW Treasurer Mr Perrottet said he is looking forward to the day ‘the people of NSW can move as freely across the border with Queensland as our GST dollars do’.
‘As restrictions lift, and hopefully in the not too distant future interstate travel returns, that will bring economic benefits to both states,’ he said.
Mr Barilaro took aim at Queensland Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for her bid to buy collapsed airline Virgin yet saying no to domestic travel.
‘Queensland, they’re beating their chest about putting in a bid for Virgin, yet they’ve got their border closed. It’s ridiculous. The virus numbers are down, the border should be open,’ he said.
‘Victoria and NSW never closed their borders. This idea that borders should be shut doesn’t even make sense.’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also said there was billions of dollars worth in domestic tourism ‘up for grabs’ as Australians cannot currently travel overseas.
On last week’s ABC QandA Ms Palaszczuk said the state plans to review the border closures at the end of each month.
‘It depends very much on how community transmission goes in Victoria and NSW, because, unfortunately, there’s more community transmission down there, and we don’t want to see that happening here in Queensland,’ she said.
On last week’s ABC QandA Ms Palaszczuk said the state plans to review the border closures at the end of each month
Hand sanitiser was set up at a nail bar in Brisbane on Saturday (pictured) as they reopened
Both NSW and Queensland enjoyed relaxed restrictions over the weekend, with people flocking to restaurants and cafes to sit down for a feed.
Eateries and coffee houses in NSW opened their doors early to punters, though were only allowed to let ten people at a time inside with social distancing in place.
In Sydney, locals braved a cold, wet morning to catch up with friends and family as cafes, restaurants and bars opened under the proviso they limit patrons to 10 at any one time.
People in Queensland also lapped up their first day of eased restrictions with many flocking to reopened restaurants and bars.
Bookings must be made to eat at the establishments and people still need to remain 1.5metres apart but can now dine out with family and friends.
Diners stared out towards the beach as cafes reopened this weekend (pictured, Surfers Paradise on Saturday)