No new cases as Deputy Premier lashes out at Qld border critics

Some good news for Queensland today, with the state recording no new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours.

The number of active cases has also dropped by one, with there now just 30 infections still active across the state.

It comes as the Deputy Premier again lashed out at people continuing to slam the Queensland Government’s tough border restrictions.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Health Minister Steven Miles said the LNP are leading the campaign to reopen the state’s borders as part of a political tactic.

“I had some pretty strong words to say about this yesterday,” Minister Miles began.

“What’s really clear is the LNP at both state and federal level are running a campaign to get our borders open.

“Let’s not forget that every state has some sort of border restrictions in place right now, the New South Wales border is closed to Victoria. Victorians aren’t permitted to travel, so there are borders in place right around the country,” he said.

The Deputy Premier also challenged the State’s opposition leader on what she would do if she was in charge.

“The real question here, the real question out of all of this is for Deb Frecklington… If she were Premier, who would she be listening to?” Minister Miles said.

“She seems to be saying she wouldn’t be listening to the Chief Health Officer, that she would be making these decisions herself without that advice.

“Does that mean she would open the borders even if the Chief Health Officer says it is unsafe to do so.

“They are really important questions and Queenslanders need an answer to them.

However, Minister Miles admitted he did agree with the Prime Minister when it comes to hopefully reopening the state by Christmas.

“The one thing I would agree with the Prime Minister on is I would like to see the borders opened, too, by Christmas,” he said.

“But only if the health advice says that that is safe, not just because of a political campaign from the LNP, not just because it is what Scott Morrison wants,” he said.

It comes after the Deputy Premier yesterday accused the Prime Minister of a “planned and orchestrated attack” on Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“It’s difficult when you have the Prime Minister, Peter Dutton, Mathias Cormann, just about every bloke in the Federal Government come out and attack you and that takes a toll,” Mr Miles said.

“But I know our Premier has stood strong on the LNP’s attacks on our border restrictions and will continue to do so.

“Has he [Scott Morrison] ever cried about the hundreds of people who died in aged care under his watch, has he ever cried about the Ruby Princess which saw people spread right throughout this country with COVID-19, does he cry right now when there are tens of thousands of Australians stranded overseas unable to return home?

“They are all things he is responsible for but he has never once taken any responsibility, never once expressed any regret, so I would urge you to consider the motives from the Prime Minister in this extraordinary attack on the Premier.”