'This is a dictatorship and it's ridiculous': Pauline Hanson threatens to take legal action as she calls for Australia's state borders to be opened

  • Senator Pauline Hanson has issued premier Annastacia Palaszczuk an ultimatum 
  • The premier has until 4pm on Thursday to reopen the state border or face court 
  • Queensland is taking a very cautious approach to stop the spread of coronavirus 
  • Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says its her priority to protect Queenslanders 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By Kelsey Wilkie and Alisha Rouse For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

The clock is ticking for the Queensland premier to reopen the state borders or risk facing Pauline Hanson in court. 

The One Nation leader has warned Annastacia Palaszczuk she has until 4pm on Thursday respond to calls to lift coronavirus travel restrictions before she takes the case to the High Court.

While speaking to Karl Stefanovic on The Today Show on Wednesday, Senator Hanson said she couldn't 'just let the border ban rest'.

'Annastacia Palaszczuk is destroying peoples lives, their livelihoods, their businesses and they can't go on,' she said.

'I hate this dictatorship, I’m all for leadership but this is a dictatorship.'

Barriers are seen at a Pacific Highway vehicle checkpoint on the Queensland-New South Wales state border near Coolangatta on April 15

Barriers are seen at a Pacific Highway vehicle checkpoint on the Queensland-New South Wales state border near Coolangatta on April 15

Ms Palaszczuk expects borders will remain closed until at least September, a timeframe which Senator Hanson called ridiculous.

'September to reopen the borders? That is ridiculous, people cannot last that long.' 

Ms Palaszczuk has resisted calls to ease the restrictions, despite national health authorities arguing there was no need for the border closure.

Leading constitutional expert George Williams told Daily Mail Australia that if the issue does get taken to the High Court, Queensland will need to show why the coronavirus is more dangerous there than in other states.

'The key issue is the strength of the medical evidence of the states. If they have clear medical evidence and good modelling, and that shows that this is needed to protect their communities, then you expect High Court would uphold closures,' Mr Williams, Dean of Law at the University of New South Wales, said.

'On the other hand if evidence shows this was justified at the height of the pandemic and they are now relying on old medical evidence that's not as strong, then I expect we'd see free movement and trade return.

'We know there was a problem, we just don't know what the strength of the medical evidence is now, we're just not privy to that... what the High Court case would do is expose that and show that evidence.

'I personally think the High Court is the right place to resolve this as any decision will be directed by evidence and not politics.'

Borders were closed for travel in April to slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

The decision sparked a fiery political debate, with New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian calling Ms Palaszczuk's decision to keep Queensland's borders closed 'ridiculous'.  

Annastacia Palaszczuk
Pauline Hanson (pictured) called the Queensland border closure 'unconstitutional'

Pauline Hanson (pictured, right) is planning to take Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) to court over Queensland's border closures

A police officer is seen working at a checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland New South Wales border on April 9 (pictured)

A police officer is seen working at a checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland New South Wales border on April 9 (pictured)

But Ms Palaszczuk has said she won't be shaken by complaints from New South Wales. 

'Let me be very clear, we are reviewing this every month. Nothing has changed,' she said.

'We are not going to be lectured to by a state that has the highest number of cases in Australia.

'If you look at the federal government's road map, they do not talk about inter-state travel until July if things are going well.' 

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 7,142

New South Wales: 3,092

Victoria: 1,618

Queensland: 1,058

Western Australia: 570

South Australia: 440

Tasmania: 228

Australian Capital Territory: 107

Northern Territory: 29

TOTAL CASES: 7,142

RECOVERED: 6,553

DEATHS: 103

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Queensland's tourism industry, which is worth $2.5billion a yea, has been one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, with flights grounded and travellers urged to stay home.  

Senator Hanson said her office had received over 100 calls from business owners struggling during the lockdown who were keen to be involved in the High Court case. 

The court case will be led by Queensland law firm Mahoneys and NSW barrister Guy Reynolds, SC, on behalf of Queensland residents.

The case will not be funded by the taxpayer. 

Ms Hanson has launched a Gofundme page to raise money for the court case.

A letter to the premier from the group read: 'We request that you undertake to revoke the border ban by 4pm on [Thursday] 28 May 2020 and otherwise undertake not to enforce it.

'If you do not give that undertaking, and you do not otherwise satisfy us that the border ban is valid, we expect to receive instructions to commence proceedings in the High Court of Australia seeking a declaration that the border ban is invalid.'

CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS STATE BY STATE

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

* Western Australia is going further than any other state in relaxing coronavirus rules, the government says, amid a mixed reaction to the state's economic roadmap.

* Locals are encouraged to return to work and take regional holidays, and the limit is at 20 people, and hospitality businesses will be allowed to serve diners under phase two of WA's recovery plan.

* The government has faced a backlash for not going further in unwinding restrictions as there are barely any cases in WA.

* Like restaurants and cafes, pubs are allowed to reopen but a limit of 20 patrons will apply as well as the one person per four square metres rule, and a requirement for customers to buy a meal if they want to have a drink.

* Weddings and funerals can have up to 20 people attend if it is held indoors while 30 people can attended if it is held outside. 

* Community facilities and libraries have reopened but public playgrounds, cinemas, skate parks, zoos, galleries and concert venues will remain closed.  

* Students will return to the classroom from May 29.

* Travel to most nearby regions is now allowed. 

* Hard border will remain indefinitely despite pressure from the rest of the country and federal medical advice.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

* Parks and reserves have reopened. 

* Weddings, funerals can have an unlimited number of guests if social distancing can be maintained.

* Playgrounds, parks and public swimming pools re-opened. 

* Gyms, nail salons, and any other businesses have re-opened so long as their activities take less than two hours 

* Outdoor sports where people can be physically distant, such as golf and tennis, are allowed.

* Pubs, cafes and restaurants opened on May 15. People are allowed in for two hours.

* From June 5, all business will be allowed to re-open as long as they have a COVID-19 plan in place. 

* All NT students are expected to physically attend school as of April 20.

* Internal travel is now allowed including to remote Aboriginal communities, but some remote areas are close to all non-essential travel until June 5.

* Dropping the border quarantine will be 'dead last'. 

QUEENSLAND

* Restaurants, pubs and clubs, nail salons and so on can have up to 20 patrons at a time. 

* Parks, playgrounds, skateparks are open 

* Up to 10 people can attended a wedding and funerals can have up to 20 guest inside and 30 if outside.  

* Up to five members from a single household can visit another home, and 10 people can meet in public 

* All students are back at school as of May 25.  

* Family picnics and weekend drives allowed, national parks will reopen and people can shop for clothing and shoes, and go for haircuts

* You can let your dog off the leash as 131 dog parks will gradually reopen

* Citizens can take day trips up to 150km of their homes, and social distancing will still be enforced.

* People from the same household can go out together, while those who live alone can spend time with one other person.

* Border quarantine will continue until September but the state is under pressure to drop this much sooner.

VICTORIA 

* Up to 20 people indoors at a party or gathering as of June 1.

* Up to 10 people can attended a wedding and funerals can have up to 20 guest inside and 30 if outside. 

* The premier's beloved game of golf, walking groups, fishing and hiking are among the outdoor activities allowed again.

* Cafes, restaurants and pubs can seat diners until June 1, unlike most other states.

* Libraries, community centres, markets, beauty parlours and tattoo studios open on June 1 as do museums, drive-in cinemas, zoos and theme parks.

* Gyms, indoor sports facilities, movie theatres can reopen from June 22 if all goes to plan allowing ski season to kick off

* Holidays and staying at friend's place overnight are also banned until June 1 when accommodation will re-open.

* There are no restrictions on leaving or entering the state, but people can only go on day trips.  

* Professional sport teams including AFL and rugby league are back to training ahead of resuming the season in late May.

* Students from prep, year one, year two, and years 11 and 12 are allowed to attend school.  

* The remaining levels will return on June 9.  

TASMANIA  

* Gatherings of five people inside and 10 in public are allowed.

* Residents can visit national parks within 30km of their home.

* The state's ban on aged care visits was eased, but no more than two visitors are allowed once a week. 

* Restaurants, cafes, playgrounds, pools and boot camps re-opened for up to 10 people at a time. 

* Up to 20 people will be allowed at cinemas, museums, theatres and historic sites as of June 15. 

* Gyms, sporting venues, health clubs and wellness centres are all prohibited.  

* Hairdressers and barbers are open but day spas, saunas and massage parlours are not allowed to operate. 

* Beauty therapy, tanning, nail treatment services and piercing and tattoo parlours are still closed.  

* Weddings can have up to 10 guest and funerals can have up to 20 guests indoors and 30 outdoors. 

* Students in kindergarten-year 6 and those in Year 11 and 12 have returned to school. 

* Student in years 7 to 10 will return on June 9.  

* There are no limits on where someone can go within the state.  

* Border restrictions, however, are still expected to be in place when stage three of the plan begins in mid-July.

NEW SOUTH WALES

* Cafes, pubs and restaurants are open but may only seat 10 people at a time.  

* Gatherings of five people at home and 10 outside are allowed

* The state government is encouraging shops to re-open with social distancing in place

* All students went back to school full-time on May 25.  

* Most businesses will be allowed to reopen on June 1, with social distancing rules and customer limits.

* Zoos, reptile parks and aquariums open June 1. 

* Weddings can have 10 guests, funerals 20 inside and 30 outside, and churches 10.

* Gyms, sporting venues, health clubs, wellness centres and indoor pools are all prohibited. 

* Entertainment and amusement venues remain closed.  

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

* Cafes and restaurants re-opened from May 11 and can seat 10 people inside and another 10 outside at a time. Pubs are shut until June 5.

* Hairdressers and barbers can open as long as the number of people inside does not exceed one person per four square metres.  

* Ten people can gather at home or in public.

* Weddings can have up to 10 guests and funerals have a 20 guest limit inside, and 30 outside.

* House auctions and inspections and non-contact sport has resumed and libraries, pools, churches and community halls reopened.

* Schools have re-opened for term 2.  

* Border is still quarantined indefinitely.

ACT

* Gatherings of 10 people are allowed.

* Students in preschool, kindergarten, and years 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11 and 12 have returned to school. 

* From June 2, students in years 5, 6, 8, and 9 will be allowed to return.  

* Weddings can have up to 10 guests and funerals have a 20 guest limit inside, and 30 outside

* Gyms will remain closed but up to 10 people can take part in non-contact personal fitness training. 

* Hairdressers and barbers can open but other beauty therapy business will open on May 30. 

* Restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues can open and host up to 10 patrons at a time.  

* Some public libraries have re-opened but people can not sit or study inside. 

* Cinemas and other entertainment venues will remain closed. 

* Galleries, museums, outdoor attractions will re-open on May 30 to groups of up to 20 people per designated session.  

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Pauline Hanson makes a passionate call for Australia's state borders to be opened 

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