New Border Closures

As you have no doubt heard, from 1 AM tomorrow, Saturday August 8, our southern border will be closed. All travellers from NSW, ACT and Victoria will be denied entry and turned around.

What has happened to us?

The Coronavirus Pandemic has seen Aussies reported in overseas newspapers as toilet paper brawlers and grocery hoarders.

While the Brits bang pots and pans to thank their frontline workers, we have seen Aussies abusing our frontline workers – health workers, aged care workers, hospitality workers and retail workers.

Yesterday the Australian ran an article about the financial crisis we face. It was headlined “Deepest Fiscal Hole in 75 Years Awaits Us”.

It went on to flag a collapse in revenue due to the COVID19 recession and the biggest deficits since WW2. If that is the national outlook, my poor old Queensland.

What a Happy Holiday

It has been wonderful to see our fellow Queenslanders using the school holidays to support outback tourism.

With Gregory covering one quarter of Queensland, I’ve been particularly pleased to hear about a lot of family holidays taken within Gregory.

Stage Three Starts Today

As you no doubt have heard, Queensland enters Stage Three of COVID-Safe Restrictions at noon today. What will that mean? Here’s a quick run-down.

National Cabinet meets today and Victoria will no doubt be the focus of discussions due to the large cluster of new COVID19 cases.

It has certainly sparked debate in the media, with some hyping it as Australia’s “second wave”.

Queensland’s Roadmap to Recovery seems to be morphing into a constant string of surprise announcements.

Here is your latest update.

It feels like public patience is wearing thin on many fronts this week.

This week it was revealed that Nathan Turner did not die of COVID19. As I said in last week’s newsletter, there has been no official cause of death issued as yet.

I have been spending some time in Blackwater and I am so proud of how the community have come together in what has been a terrible time.

As many readers will already be aware, this week a young man – Nathan Turner, 30 – tested positive to COVID19 after he was found to have tragically passed away in his Blackwater home.

Once again, I extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to his fiancée, family and friends. I ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.