Victorians to be barred from entering Queensland

Queensland has joined the Northern Territory in barring Victorians from entering the state, with the ban effective from midday this Friday as the Sunshine State starts reopening its borders to the rest of Australia.

The changes to state border restrictions means from noon on 10 July visitors from Victoria will no longer be able to access or even quarantine in Queensland.

In fact, anyone who has been in Victoria over the last 14 days will be turned around at the border.

The Queensland Government has declared all of Victoria as a 'hot spot' for people entering Queensland as the southern state is currently embroiled in an explosion of community transmission of COVID-19.

Further, from noon this Friday anyone who enters Queensland will need to have a 'Queensland Border Declaration Pass', and any necessary documentation to prove they have not been in Victoria over the past 14 days.

In addition, visitors will be required to get tested for COVID-19 if they develop symptoms while in Queensland or face a $4,004 fine.

The new changes will also apply to Queensland residents.

BREAKING: Given the developing situation in Victoria, Queensland is hardening its border.

From noon, July 10, visitors from Victoria will no longer gain access or be able to quarantine in Queensland.

They will be turned around.#COVID19Vic#Victoria#Queenslandpic.twitter.com/GwsAW223t5

Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 8, 2020

"These strict measures are about safeguarding Queensland in the midst of a global pandemic," says Queensland Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler.

"They are necessary and important to maintain the good work that has already been done in controlling and stopping the spread of COVID-19 in our state.

"We are asking members of the public to work with us and have their declaration pass, any necessary proof or documentation ready and above all, to be patient when crossing the border."

Queensland Border Declaration Passes will need to be renewed every seven days to ensure declarations are accurate and up-to-date.

Failure to comply with quarantine directions and border restrictions can result in on-the-spot fines of $1,334 for individuals and $6,672 for corporations.

Providing false information on the declaration or entering Queensland unlawfully could result in a $4,003 fine.

The Queensland Entry Declaration can be accessed here and is valid for seven days.

Police will continue to operate border checkpoints at Coolangatta and across border crossing in the Gold Coast district.

Police controlled vehicle checkpoints:

• Griffith Street and Stuart Street
• Gold Coast Highway and Coolangatta Road
• M1 northbound at Stewarts Road
• Nerang Murwillumbah Road, Natural Bridge will have a QPS controlled border pass system between 7am to 7pm each day and 24-hour access to emergency vehicles
• Miles Street will be restricted access to local border residents only

Hard closures:

• Boundary Street and Clarke Street
• Dixon Street and Bay Street
• Dixon Street and Florence Street
• Leeward Terrace and Tooloon Street
• Kent Street near Murraba Crescent
• Tomewin Mountain Road, Currumbin Valley

The news comes as Queensland has reported no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State overnight.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall also announced today that all returning South Australians travelling from Victoria will be required to submit themselves to a mandatory COVID-19 test within 24 hours of their arrival. It follows the state imposing a hard border with Victoria overnight, meaning anyone other than South Australian residents and essential travellers will not be allowed into the SA.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said today that the State is on "high alert" for community transmission of COVID-19 resulting from Victorians entering NSW.

The Northern Territory has also closed its borders to travellers from Victoria indefinitely. 

There are 13 new cases of COVID-19 in Australia today, but Victoria has not yet announced its new case numbers. Yesterday Victoria recorded 134 new cases of COVID-19.

Globally there are now more than 12 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 500,000 people have now died from the coronavirus.

Updated at 9:50am AEST on 9 July 2020.