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No more RATS: Queensland to remove all hard border restrictions from this Saturday

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has today announced that the state's domestic hard border will come down altogether from Saturday, 15 January at 1am. This means that RAT tests or border declarations and passes will no longer be required to enter the state.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has today announced that the state’s domestic hard border will come down altogether from Saturday, 15 January at 1am. This means that RAT tests or border declarations and passes will no longer be required to enter the state.

In a media briefing this morning, the premier announced the Sunshine State will lift its requirement for domestic travellers to show a negative COVID test before entering the state from Saturday morning.

The requirement was due to be removed when the state hit 90 per cent double-dose vaccination of those 16 and over but will now be lifted early.

With three weeks left of the crucial school summer holidays, the news will be a huge and welcome relief for tourists and struggling tourism suppliers in ensuring the season can continue without the challenge of finding RAT tests in order to be able to travel.

“They do not have to show that they’ve had the border pass, they don’t have to show that they have to state that they’ve had a RAT test, rapid antigen test,” Ms Palaszczuk said. 

“Now is the time for the barricades to come down and for police to come home and resume their normal operational duties,” she added.

Other mandates requiring people to be fully vaccinated to be able to enter events and venues will remain.

Once Queensland hits 90% double dosed, restrictions for fully vaccinated international arrivals will also lift, however, unvaccinated international arrivals will still be required to undertake mandatory hotel quarantine.

More to come.