Test naysayers ‘want Qld to catch Covid’

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday faced more pressure over plans to forge ahead with the mandatory – and costly – PCR test for visitors and residents returning from covid hotspots from early December.

The state maintains it will not drop the requirement for a ‘gold standard’ PCR test once its double vaccination rate hits 80 per cent and the borders reopen next month, an event that could happen as soon as December 6.

This stance has, however, been met with criticism by interstate counterparts, with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet adamant it would prevent some people from travelling to Queensland altogether.

Mr Perrottet had earlier called for National Cabinet to find a way to subsidise the test, which can cost as much as $145 per person, in order to ensure people can head to the sunshine state this summer.

Federal Health minister Greg Hunt has also asked Queensland to consider cheaper rapid antigen testing for travel purposes, while ruling out providing 100 per cent Medicare cover for the PCR test, despite calls from Ms Palaszczuk to do so.

Ms Palaszczuk on Tuesday said it was disappointing the issue had been politicised given it was “only a temporary measure” until the state reaches 90 per cent vaccination levels early next year.

“If someone came in without a PCR test and had the virus, it would spread like wildfire through the unvaccinated population of Queensland,” she said.

“I don’t want to see the people of Queensland get Covid for Christmas.

“The federal government might.”

The state on Tuesday also dangled the threat of lost freedoms and “no fun” in front of unvaccinated residents in a brutal new ad campaign.

A new media blitz telling residents that they risk being banned from the pub, the footy, festivals and cinemas if they haven’t got the jab when visitors start arriving from interstate.

Those who are fully vaccinated and with proof of a negative test from within 72 hours of travel will be allowed into the state without quarantining, with the state government accepting that it will likely lead to a spike in case numbers.

To help keep a lid on any spread, a government spokesman told The Courier Mail that, from Tuesday, a range of billboards and digital media would feature the message “No jabs? No pubs, no gigs, no footy, no movies and no festivals” for unvaccinated people.

Queensland has 84.6 per cent of people with at least one dose of the vaccine and 73.4 per cent with two doses.

There was one new reported case of covid in quarantine on Tuesday, a mariner who acquired the case overseas, with just five cases active in the state.

The new campaign comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison doubles down on his criticism of Queensland’s proposed ban on unvaccinated people from hospitality venues.

“If venues, businesses, airlines, other places of work seek to require of their employees to be vaccinated, they have that right under the law,” Mr Morrison said.

“But it is not the commonwealth government’s policy that they should be told to do that, wherever that is in the country.

“We support mandatory vaccines for health workers, for aged care workers, for disability workers, those who are working with vulnerable people.”

Entry requirements from Covid hot spots at 80 per cent:

• Travellers can arrive by air or road
• Must be fully vaccinated
• Have a negative Covid test in the 72 hours before travel
• No quarantine required

Entry requirements when Queensland reaches 90 per cent vaccinated:

• Quarantine limited to unvaccinated only

Originally published as Queensland refuses to drop costly PCR tests for new arrivals and returning residents