Queensland opens borders early

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed that the sunny state will welcome fully vaccinated interstate travellers from Covid-19 hotspots as of today, Monday November 15, at 5pm. 

The state hit its 70 per cent fully vaccinated benchmark on Sunday. This eagerly awaited milestone came days earlier than authorities had expected, allowing restrictions to end sooner than the November 19 date, initially flagged. 

BREAKING: Some border restrictions will ease after Queensland hit 70% double dosed earlier than planned.

From 5pm today, fully vaccinated returning residents and interstate travellers can apply for a new border pass which will allow them to fly into Queensland from a hotspot. pic.twitter.com/mthpacYmTa

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) November 14, 2021

Travellers coming from hotspots including Victoria and New South Wales will be allowed to enter Queensland by plane if they are fully vaccinated, have proof of a negative COVID test and complete a 14-day home quarantine. 

Emails are currently being issued to anyone who is already in the queue to enter the state, asking them to complete their online application and upload their vaccination certificate to receive their border pass.

For those not in the queue, you can apply for one from 5pm today.

Palaszczuk indicated further border restriction may be brought forward from December 17 if the state hits the 80 per cent fully vaccinated threshold early. 

Fully vaccinated Queenslanders will be rewarded on 17 December or once we reach 80% double dosed ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6sN91BYM1U

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) November 9, 2021

“But that depends on Queenslanders getting vaccinated,” she says. 

She is urging residents to continue to come forward and to “keep it up” with the vaccinations. 

Meanwhile, Health Minister Yvette D’ath has praised Queenslanders for reaching the 70 per cent milestone ahead of target, urging them to keep up their momentum with jabs.

“Queenslanders, you are kicking this out of the park,” said D’ath. 

D’ath has also outlined conditions for interstate travellers and warned those tempted to skip the border without following protocols.

“I’ll be very clear to people, if they think they can rort the system, if you think that you can get a border pass and get a on a plane and get off at the end and not be caught if you haven’t done your vaccination if you haven’t got that negative test, you will be found out,” Health Minister Yvette D’ath said on Sunday, November 14. 

Travellers entering the state are required to quarantine at a residence no further than two hours away from the airport they are flying into. 

If a traveller is found with an invalid application or with false information, hefty fines will be applied. 

The new vaccine milestone comes in tandem with a state record of no new cases from 6,588 tests carried out in the past 24 hours. 

Despite the early border bonus, all unvaxed Queenslanders and unvaxed holidaymakers to the sunshine state face draconian new restrictions from mid-December, when they will be prohibited from entering pubs, clubs, cafes, sporting venues and other popular outdoor venues.