Health Minister reads riot act to NRL border breakers as Qld records no new cases

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has read the riot act to three New South Wales men accused of illegally sneaking across the Queensland border to Suncorp Stadium to go the NRL grand final.

Ms D’Ath also confirmed no new local COVID-19 cases in Queensland on Saturday, however, three cases from overseas were recorded.

While the three NRL fans have so far tested negative for COVID-19, the Health Minister fumed at the lack of respect shown to Queensland, because of the high number of COVID-19 cases remaining in New south Wales.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath reads the riot act at three NSW men accused of illegally crossing the Queensland border from a COVID hotspot to see the NRL grand final.Credit:Matt Dennien

Both Queensland and New South Wales police and the NRL’s Integrity Unit are investigating the allegedly fraudulent documents used by the three men to cross the border.

Ms D’Ath â€" previously the state’s attorney-general â€" was asked if she believed the three men should be jailed for a short-term in addition to being fined.

“What should be a deterrent is the fact that over 400 people have died [from COVID-19] since June 16 in New South Wales alone,” Ms D’Ath said bluntly.

“Over 60,000 positive case in one state from one person. That should be enough of a deterrent that you are putting every person at risk by crossing that border,” she said.

“You think of the irresponsibility of walking into a stadium â€" knowing you have come from a hot spot - and putting everyone at risk.

“I am extremely disappointing, and I hope it sends a clear message to other people that this is not acceptable.

“It doesn’t matter what fine we give you. I think the public will judge you for that behaviour.”

Three NSW men have been fined after allegedly attending the NRL grand final without the proper border pass.Credit:Getty

Ms D’Ath said the federal government should accept it should increase general health funding â€" not COVID-specific funding â€" to prepare for additional cases likely if borders slowly open.

“With the virus still in ACT, New South Wales and Victoria, we know it will eventually come here and it will spread through the community, so please get vaccinated now,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said Queensland was experiencing “year-on-year” growth in demand on our hospital system from an ageing population, “but the Commonwealth has not met the 50-50 [funding] agreement that was reached back in 2012.

“That has stopped at a 45 per cent contribution from the Commonwealth.”

“We are not talking about COVID-19 funding, we are talking about normal funding of our health system.”

The Federal Health Department has been contacted for comment.

While no community cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Queensland in the past 24 hours, there are new fronts of concern for Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young.

The first is a positive case of a mariner from a merchant ship off Cape York which left Indonesia seven days ago, who is one of three positive overseas COVID-19 cases under investigation.

The merchant ship left Indonesia seven days ago and Queensland health authorities were alerted on Friday that a crewman had tested positive to COVID-19, presumably the Delta strain.

Secondly, two people tested positive in hotel quarantine after arriving from Papua New Guinea on different flights on October 6.

“The mariner will be assessed as to whether we need to bring him off that ship or whether he can continue to be managed on the ship,” Dr Young said.

Deception Bay State High School opened today as a vaccination centre as the Queensland government continued its drive to increase the rate of vaccinations over a new Vaccination Super Weekend in Queensland.

“Anyone who has not had a first dose, now is definitely the time to come and get vaccinated if you are 12 years of age or older,” Dr Young said.

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