Queensland police threaten to turn away cross-border worker with surfboard on his roof rack

A worker has been left confused after he was reportedly threatened with being turned away from the Queensland border for having a surfboard on his roof. 

Tweed resident Brian Springfield, 55, was on his way to work in Currumbin when he was quizzed by police at a border checkpoint on Saturday.

Mr Springfield had left his surfboard tied to his roof rack but thought nothing of it as he made his usual early morning commute to work. 

‘The police officer looked at me and kept looking at the roof and back down,’ he told Yahoo News.

‘He went right through my paperwork and said, ‘next time you come through, do not have the surfboard on or I won’t let you come through.’  

Mr Springfield then asked police why he would be turned away from the border to which an officer responded: ‘It looks like you’re going to go for a surf’. 

Mr Springfield then asked police why he would be turned away from the border to which an officer responded: ‘It looks like you’re going to go for a surf’

The puzzled worker then challenged the officer, explaining there were no border rules against having a surfboard in the car.  

But the officer reportedly told Mr Springfield there was ‘no rule that I have to let you into the state’.

Under current border restrictions residents who have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine can cross the border for work, education, volunteering, caregiving, healthcare or essential shopping. 

Cross-border residents who have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine can cross the border for work, education, volunteering, caregiving, healthcare or essential shopping (pictured, police conducting border checks)

Cross-border zone residents are not allowed into the state for recreational reasons or to visit friends and family. 

‘Police have a duty to ensure that everyone who enters Queensland with an essential purpose adheres to border entry requirements,’ Queensland police said. 

‘If a person happens to have a surfboard on top of the car they have a reason to question if the person intends to go surfing and whether this is an essential reason.’ 

After months of harsh restrictions and confusing rules Mr Springfield said the border closures were taking a mental toll on residents.  

‘A lot of people are losing sleep over it, over how long it will take to cross the border and whether you will be turned away,’ he told the news outlet. 

‘It’s a mental thing, they can’t see an end to it.’ 

Mr Springfield said the border closures were taking a mental toll on residents after months of harsh restrictions

Earlier this month Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced she will open the state’s borders before Christmas, finally giving into mounting pressure to allow family reunions. 

Ms Palaszczuk set a deadline for Queenslanders to get vaccinated – December 17, when NSW and Victorian residents will be allowed to visit without quarantining 

But officials have confirmed the checkpoints are due to stay in place until early next year.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles confirmed that the barricades will be removed once the state hits the 90 per cent double vaccination rate.

Over Christmas, travellers will be checked by police at the border to ensure they are fully vaccinated and have tested negative to Covid 72 hours prior.

Gridlock is expected at the border after commuters experienced up to two hours of delay amid border closure checkpoints last holiday season.