The slight easing of border restrictions by the Queensland Government is a positive step but the exclusion of the Clarence Valley local government area doesn’t make any sense, according to Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis.

“It is quite bizarre and certainly not based on medical evidence that Glenn Innes Shire is given the nod but the Clarence Valley is excluded,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“I have written to the Queensland Premier asking her to reconsider and to accept the whole of the Northern NSW Local Health District into the so-called bubble since we are demonstrably COVID safe.

“No new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in residents of the Northern NSW Local Health District since 25 July.

“It is very much in Queensland’s interests to open up to the Clarence Valley both for the small businesses that trade there and locals who like spending their weekend tourist dollar on the Gold Coast,” Mr Gulaptis concluded.