Big fine for those who do not self-isolate -sharenews
Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk speaking to media ahead of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, Friday, March 13, 2020. (AAP Image/James Gourley)
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned of the heavy financial penalty that awaits any person who arrives from overseas and does not self-isolate.
From midnight all people coming to Australia will have to self-isolate for 14 days, while cruise ships will be banned from arriving at Australian ports for an initial 30 days.
Ms Palaszczuk said on Sunday that laws were in place to deal with those who fail to follow a direction to self-isolate.
"In relation to legislation around that ... it's under our Public Health Emergency Act," she said.
"That bill was passed in early February and there are penalties for not complying with the notification and that is around $13,000," she said.
"We have random police checks to make sure people are compliant with that notice."
The warning came as Queensland had its biggest single-day jump in coronavirus cases, taking the number of people detected with the COVID-19 to 61.
There were 15 people confirmed on Sunday as having contracted the viris.
People were also being discouraged from kissing, hugging or even shaking hands.
"We are asking Queenslanders, when you are out and about no hand shaking ... and no kissing or hugging in public. Let's all minimise the risk," the premier said.
Queensland's chief health officer warned that now may not be the time for children to visit their grandparents.
"I implore people if you have parents ... or grandparents in that older age group think about how you can help them. Maybe it's not the time for your young kids to see their grandparents," she said.
Meanwhile Queensland senator Susan McDonald has announced several Senate committee hearings scheduled for Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns this week have been cancelled until further notice.
The hearings were scheduled for the Regional and Rural Affairs and Transport Committee from Monday through to Thursday.
© AAP 2020
