Under my questioning in a committee hearing a few weeks back, Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said that COVID-19 mandates and restrictions were under “active consideration.” Given that many have now been removed, that seems to have been precisely correct, and I thank Dr Gerrard for his frankness. It was refreshing. As of Thursday 14 April, venues that have been open only to vaccinated staff and patrons will be open to everyone.

The venues include:
- Pubs, clubs, cafés and restaurants
- Theme parks, casinos and cinemas
- Weddings
- Showgrounds
- Galleries, libraries, museums and stadiums
- Vaccine requirements will still apply to visitors and workers in vulnerable settings, including:
- Hospitals
- Aged and disability care
- Prisons
- Schools and early childhood centres

I’m sure many in our community will be glad to see the end of these restrictions. Many did not make sense and seemed to be of very little potential or actual benefit in terms of reducing transmission of the virus. When there is a situation where café seating in a shopping centre is subject to restrictions, but common seating two or three metres away is not, there’s a lot of cost and angst involved with businesses who need to try and comply with the law and also maintain good customer relations. And for what? I called in Parliament for some common sense to prevail, and that now seems to be the case. You would not have known these changes were coming if you happened to listen in to the contributions of all Labor Government MPs in Parliament when this very matter was debated 29-31 March – they all doubled down in support of all the mandates, ridiculousness and all, like good little comrades toeing the line – even on those measures now scrapped.  

HAPPY EASTER!
The Easter long weekend is fast approaching and is a time that most of us are able to enjoy with friends and family. As you plan your activities for the upcoming long weekend, consider staying somewhere in the Scenic Rim, or if you’re not planning to go away, maybe consider some day trips to one of the beautiful corners of the electorate. This helps our local tourism vendors and local small businesses to grow.

Whatever you might be up to, please remember to take it easy on the roads, slow down and drive to conditions. Long weekends usually mean more cars, caravans, and holidaymakers are on the road, and drivers should be more alert than ever. Many people are unaware that around half of all speed-related crashes, resulting in injuries or fatalities, happen at just 10 km/h or less over the speed limit. Every extra kilometre over could cause harm or damage to others on the road – speeding to shave a few minutes off your journey could lead to consequences that last a lifetime. Stay safe on the roads this Easter, and I hope you get to enjoy time with family and friends.

If I can be of assistance for a state government matter you’re concerned about, do not hesitate to contact me by phone (toll-free) 1800 813 960, by email at scenicrim@parliament.qld.gov.au or by mail at PO Box 656 Beaudesert QLD 4285.