Queenslanders want state border to remain shut

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Hopes for a Queensland holiday before Christmas have been dealt a blow with new Roy Morgan polling showing the majority of Queenslanders want the border with NSW to remain shut:

A majority of 53% of Queensland electors say they don’t want the NSW border opened now compared to 47% that do want the border opened now.

A narrow majority of 51% of men do want the NSW border open now compared to only 43% of women.

Slim majorities of Queenslanders aged 50-64 (51%) and 65+ (52%) want the NSW border opened now while only 43% of 35-49yr old’s and just 39% of people aged under 35 want the border open now.

The issue is highly partisan with majorities of LNP supporters (72%), One Nation supporters (63%) and a small majority of Katter’s Australian Party supporters (52%) wanting the NSW border open now.

However, on the other side, large majorities of both ALP supporters (77%) and an even larger majority of Greens supporters (81%) do not want the NSW border open now…

This is ludicrous stuff given Queensland is so dependent on tourism, as well as the low infection numbers in NSW, which are tracking near levels at the end of the first virus wave when Queensland’s border was open:

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My prediction is that the ALP Government will keep Queensland’s border shut until after the upcoming election and then, once power is retained and electoral risk has evaporated, will open up in mid-to-late November (assuming no new virus breakout).

Alternatively, the LNP will win government and open up in a similar timeframe.

About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.