Thread: Corona Virus

Originally Posted by bob10

When you understand that the majority of coronavirus cases in Qld. can be traced to the Ruby Princess, I don't think the closures were quick enough. And surely you realise that trade and essential travel has always been allowed.... Don't you ?

But those people who were on the Ruby Princess and went back to Queensland would've been Queensland residents, right? So they would've been allowed in regardless. On the other hand I've never been on a cruise ship and I don't have coronavirus but I can't cross into Qld.

Re trade, there were posts on this thread talking about trucks needing permits to cross the border - what were the restrictions?

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I'm afraid that regardless of your thoughts on the subject, we live in a federation. If you think the states ought to be abolished, or want to change the rights of the states vs the Commonwealth, it should take you about half an hour to read and understand the relevant section of the constitution. Could take a bit longer to get the constitution changed though - and the success rate of attempts to do so is not very impressive. (8/45 attempts unless I miscounted)

Well .... care to point me to where the Constitution mentions the National Cabinet or the powers the Federal Minister of Health has been exercising? Or for that matter, the power that allows the Commonwealth to create the Corporations Act?

Australia has in practice evolved away from the limited role the Commonwealth was originally given in the Constitution towards a more national character.

Originally Posted by Arapiles

But those people who were on the Ruby Princess and went back to Queensland would've been Queensland residents, right? So they would've been allowed in regardless. On the other hand I've never been on a cruise ship and I don't have coronavirus but I can't cross into Qld.

Re trade, there were posts on this thread talking about trucks needing permits to cross the border - what were the restrictions?

Trucks were not being stopped when we crossed back into Queensland, nor were vehicles with Qld regos and/or entry passes stuck to the windscreen.
From what I've read, the Qld government is trying to stop southerners from carrying the virus over the border from NSW and Victoria, where almost all the cases are.

I suppose you could apply for a pass and see what happens:

Queensland Entry Pass | Queensland Government

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Trucks were not being stopped when we crossed back into Queensland, nor were vehicles with Qld regos and/or entry passes stuck to the windscreen.
From what I've read, the Qld government is trying to stop southerners from carrying the virus over the border from NSW and Victoria, where almost all the cases are.

I suppose you could apply for a pass and see what happens:

Queensland Entry Pass | Queensland Government

No, no - I've never been to Queensland but it's enough to know that it's there.

The border restrictions are based on Queensland health legislation passed by the Qld Parliament under an order by the chief medical officer, so any legal challenge would have to prove that the Australian Constitution overrode state health laws, which might be tricky to prove as health is managed by the states. The lawyers could go on about that for years, I predict.

Border restrictions Direction (No. 5) | Queensland Health


As for the trucks, trade is allowed to continue anway, but in addition many trucks run by companies based in other states seem to be registered in Qld anyway.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

which might be tricky to prove as health is managed by the states.

*incorrect buzzer sound.

Originally Posted by Eevo

*incorrect buzzer sound.

No, its correct that health is managed by the states. The Commonwealth only provides funding to the states.

In Queensland its the Public Health Act 2005.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

No, its correct that health is managed by the states. The Commonwealth only provides funding to the states.

so you dont believe funding isnt part of managing?