Biosecurity Zones
The easing of restrictions in state travel do not include Biosecurity or restricted zones for indigenous communities which will remain in place subject to a review in consultation with community members.
This means access is still restricted to Cape communities including the local government areas of Wujal Wujal, Aurukun, Cook, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Napranum, Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw, Torres Strait Island, and Torres.
The state government has launched a three-stage Roadmap to easing access restrictions for Queensland’s remote communities, enabling designated communities to transition from the current federal emergency biosecurity restrictions, which are not set to end until 17 September 2020, to state-based arrangements under Chief Health Officer public health directions.
The Queensland Government will ask the Federal Government to remove Queensland’s remote communities from the Biosecurity Determination from 12 June 2020 to enable stage two state-based arrangements to commence.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer will issue public health directions to manage ongoing risk, account for different health risk profiles throughout the State, and reflect the views and needs of Queensland’s First Nations communities.
The timeframe and restrictions would likely vary between communities.
Stage one enables people entering or re-entering a designated community to self-quarantine within that community, where safe to do so. Under stage one, quarantine exemptions will remain in place for essential workers, those travelling through communities without stopping and those granted an exemption by the Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group in the designated area.
Under stage two, the Chief Health Officer will publish a direction that enables communities to become part of ’safe travel zones’ residents can easily travel within based on public health advice. A ‘Safe Travel Zone’ can be made up of a single community, or several local government areas, depending on the risk profile of the area. Stage two can commence following the Commonwealth removal of communities from the Biosecurity Determination.
Stage three of the Roadmap removes entry and quarantine restrictions, with remote and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities — plus the Burke and Cook shires — subject to the same provisions as other areas of Queensland under the Roadmap to Easing Restrictions.
