Annastacia Palaszczuk's convincing re-election as Queensland premier last year is widely attributed to her government's tough response to the Covid pandemic.
By putting in firm border controls quickly and early, Ms Palaszczuk responded directly to the parochial nature of Queenslanders, who have always seen themselves and their state as 'different' from the rest of Australia.
Beyond the anti-vax crowd who've turned out to protest in Brisbane in recent months, or the more mixed crowd who protest against the massive inconvenience of restrictions in the border community of Coolangatta-Tweed Heads, the majority of Queenslanders are broadly supportive of the 'Fortress Queensland' approach that prevented Covid from spreading wildly in the state.
While southern capitals such as Sydney and Melbourne were portrayed as 'Covid-riddled', Queensland was constantly held up as a place where - other than a few snap three-day lockdowns and lots of mask-wearing - normal life went on.
'We stood strong, Queensland,' Mr Palaszczuk said after being returned to government in October 2020, referring to the pandemic response. 'We stared down critics and we have come out of it all the better for it'
In announcing the re-opening plan in October, after 80 per cent of Queenslanders achieved full vaccination, Ms Palaszczuk expressly said it was 'good news' for families wanting to reunite for Christmas. Pictured: A mother reunites with her children at Brisbane Airport after eight months apart when Queensland reached 70 per cent of its population fully vaccinated
'We stood strong, Queensland,' Mr Palaszczuk said after being returned to government in October 2020, referring to the pandemic response.
'We stared down critics and we have come out of it all the better for it.'
But this time is Ms Palaszczuk in danger of being on the wrong side of public sentiment?
It will be a brave call - even for Fortress Queensland - to renege on a commitment to re-open the state to interstate travellers from Covid hotpots on December 17 in the wake of the new Omicron variant.
On Monday Deputy Premier Steve Miles said there was, as yet, no change to the plan to allow interstate visitors back by road and air from December 17.
But neither he, Ms Palaszczuk nor the Acting Chief Health Officer Peter Aitken have yet ruled out the possibility the plan could change.
How prepared the premier would be to ruin people's end-of-year Christmas and summer holidays - after giving them the idea firm plans could now be made - remains to
