The ongoing movement of mining and construction industry personnel, considered essential to the economy of inland Queensland, means that regional COVID-19 restrictions are unlikely to be lifted earlier there than in other parts of the state.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
Visiting Blackall on Thursday as part of an inspection of the wider region, Queensland Police assistant commissioner Mike Condon quashed hopes of many that the absence of active coronavirus cases throughout the six-week lockdown period might mean a relaxation in quarantining at a regional level.
Some mayors and business owners say that thanks to the already isolated nature of south west, central west and north west Queensland, they should be able to resume some level of trading.
Kennedy MP Bob Katter wants to see that extended to the Townsville Hospital and Health Service region now that it's completed 28 days without a new case of coronavirus, and therefore has met guidelines for the easing of restrictions set by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Chief Health Officer Janette Young.
"Cairns will meet the 28-day threshold in seven days as their last case was on April 16," he added.
"I wasn't initially critical of the house arrest, it was necessary, but it is now obvious that we can overcome it with regional quarantining.
"The churches, pubs, clubs, local businesses and schools are vital for recovery and moving forward."
Mr Condon said it wasn't as easy as opening one part of the state and keeping another closed.
"It's all right to trace back to a ship or to a plane that's come in from overseas (but) if you've got community transmission and we don't know where it started, that's when we're in trouble.
"You can imagine how difficult it would be to start to isolate pockets all over the place.
"It's got to be one rule for all, that's my personal view."
He said it was the movement of people between regions that precluded any regional relaxation.
"We've got people moving about, we've got mines that are very active in the Cooper basin, you've got major building projects, hospitals that are getting built with workers coming in and out, so there's a little bit of luck associated with this.
"We've just got to be very smart about it.
"It's tough times but the alternative could be widespread disease."
Mr Condon did offer a glimmer of hope when he said they may get to a position where some smaller businesses could be opened with social distancing enforced.
"Now, is that viable? I don't know, these are individual decisions that will have to be made," he said. "I think we've got to be guided by the experts and the chief health officers to where we go in the future."
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
