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Premier’s approval plunges amid virus spike but will it stop our borders opening?

Support for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has slumped as his state battles a spike in coronavirus cases, a Newspoll indicates.

Jun 30, 2020, updated Jun 30, 2020
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. (Photo: ABC)

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. (Photo: ABC)

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has won approval for her handling of the pandemic while her NSW counterpart Gladys Berejiklian lost some backing, according to the Newspoll, conducted for The Australian.

Just 40 per cent of Victorians surveyed were satisfied with Andrews’ performance, down from 58 per cent in April.

A quarter of respondents said he had handled the coronavirus badly, compared with 11 per cent two months ago.

In Queensland, Palaszczuk’s satisfaction rating was up from 16 per cent in April to 24 per cent.

Berejiklian’s rating among NSW voters dipped from 46 to 42 per cent over the same period while WA Premier Mark McGowan’s rating went from 83 per cent satisfied to 79 per cent.

The poll comes as South Australia has scrapped a plan to lift all its remaining border restrictions next month amid the spike in coronavirus cases in Victoria.

Premier Steven Marshall says the July 20 date to lift quarantine measures for Victoria, NSW and the ACT has been abandoned on the latest health advice.

He says the state may move separately on NSW and the ACT but can’t make any move in relation to Victoria in the current circumstances.

“Our number one priority is the health, welfare and safety of all South Australians. At this stage we cannot lift that border (with Victoria) on the 20th July as we were hoping to do,” the premier told reporters on Tuesday.

A  decision to open Queensland’s borders or keep them tightly shut will be revealed today.

Pressure from businesses that rely on interstate tourism to stay afloat has failed to push the state government to open borders sooner as Queensand’s coronavirus case numbers dwindle.

It reviews the closure at the end of each month and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is set to make a long-awaited announcement on Tuesday.

The closure has been a point of frustration for border communities and industries desperate for customers and foot traffic after taking a hit during the global pandemic.

Palaszczuk and her government have argued keeping the borders closed has kept Queenslanders safe, while the Liberal National Party wants them opened to stop businesses going under.

However, a surge of new locally acquired cases has put officials on edge, with Victorian health officials recording 75 new diagnoses on Monday.

It comes after dozens of new cases in the state in recent days.

By contrast Queensland has had just one positive test in the past nine days – a returned traveller from overseas.

-AAP

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