By Jess Baker
Queensland has introduced a new border declaration pass that all travellers must complete prior to entering the state.
From 1am Saturday 19 June, all travellers entering Queensland from New Zealand or any state or territory within Australia will be required to make an online Queensland Travel Declaration.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stated in a tweet this morning that as new cases of Covid-19 were emerging in New South Wales and Victoria, the step was a “sensible measure” to keep Queenslanders safe.
The premier also warned residents of the state against travelling to Greater Sydney, and said restrictions on travel from Greater Melbourne would remain for another seven days.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath said the new requirement would support contact tracing efforts.
“It’s vital that if an interstate exposure site or hotspot is declared, our health experts can quickly contact anyone who has travelled into Queensland from that area,” she said.
“This is the next line of defence for Queensland – if we’re able to reach people quickly, it will reduce the risk of COVID-19 in Queensland and manage outbreaks right from the get-go.
“The declaration is made online and is quick and easy, taking only a few minutes to complete, and operates in a similar fashion to the Victorian system.”
Queensland will introduce a traffic light system, where green means the traveller is free to enter the state, amber means the traveller has been to a hotspot and must get tested and isolate, and red means the traveller is not allowed into state.
Travellers’ online declarations must be completed up to three days prior to their arrival in Queensland and will be issued immediately via email.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said measures will be taken so those living close to the Queensland – New South Wales border will not have to complete multiple travel declarations.
“We know there are a number of people living close to the Queensland border who either work or access important services regularly in Queensland or in northern New South Wales,” she said.
“We want to ensure they can continue to do that without making a declaration each time they cross the border, so we’ve established a border zone to cater for those situations.”
All domestic travellers from a state or territory that has had a Covid-19 hotspot declared in the last 14 days must apply for a Queensland Border Declaration Pass before entering Queensland.
