Who ‘d be Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today?
Dealing with a hard election in October, Palaszczuk is coming under huge pressure to open the state’s borders, so visitors in search of winter season sun can begin to get the traveler industry back on its feet.
She’s in the sights not just of the Federal Government, with Peter Dutton (” a proud Queenslander”) leading the charge, however of NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Ms Palaszczuk so far is holding firm, saying she’ll follow the suggestions of her Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young.
The border closure will be examined monthly; it could remain shut up until September, and Dr Young says potentially even longer. It depends upon the variety of active cases in NSW and Victoria, which have even more than Queensland.
It may be Queensland first opens to South Australia and the Northern Area before re-opening the border with NSW.
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No ‘correct’ answer
In political terms, Ms Palaszczuk is on dangerous ground whatever she does.
Depriving the state’s economy of much-needed dollars will offer ammo to her challengers. On the other hand, if an open border caused a serious outbreak in a tourist centre, requiring fresh shutdowns, she ‘d bring the blame.
It’s a predicament to which there is no “proper” answer.
So far, Ms Palaszczuk has citizens’ support in how she’s handled the pandemic (although her federal government’s score is lower than those of other state governments).
In the Important survey released this week, 66 per ce