A statement from Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker in response to an announcement that specialist resources workers will be permitted to travel from interstate to work in Queensland.
I want to emphasise that Isaac Regional Council continues to have every confidence in the actions of the Queensland Government – and the Chief Medical Officer – however we are seeking information to satisfy the understandable concerns of our communities.
These exemptions are not our rules.
The exemptions have been negotiated between the resources industry and the Queensland Government.
As Mayor of Isaac Regional Council, I am on record as saying we do not support exemptions being given to the mining sector for workers from COVID-19 hotspots.
We have put questions to the Queensland Government about how the risks of exemptions being provided for specialist workers for emergency works, who may be travelling from interstate hotspots, in to the coal fields of the Isaac Region will be managed and we are awaiting a response.
Protecting the health and welfare of our communities is our first priority.
So far, we have been spared any cases of COVID-19 in our region, despite the risks posed by interstate travel, and we want to keep it that way.
Council maintains the position that the best solution is to allow specialist workers from interstate to travel to Queensland, have them quarantine for the mandatory 14-day period and then, cleared of COVID-19, remain on location in the Region.
Council will continue to be involved in discussions with the Queensland Government and resources industry on the issue of interstate workers in the Isaac Region
