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ABC News
ABC News
Health
By Stephanie Zillman

'They are discriminating against Queensland': Tensions continue over state's ADF border support

ADF personnel will end their Queensland border duties on September 30.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will not extend its support on Queensland's borders beyond September 30, despite remaining at the New South Wales, Northern Territory and South Australian borders until the middle of October.

The ABC has been told ADF personnel in Queensland and Western Australian would be withdrawn when agreements with each state end on September 30.

In NSW and South Australia, the ADF has advised it will begin "drawing down" on personnel from October 15, and in the NT from October 30.

Queensland authorities have been lobbying the Federal Government for an extension of ADF support beyond September 30 to match agreements with other states.

"I got a letter back from the Minister for Defence where it states very clearly that they will not be moving on Queensland," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"I don't think it's fair or reasonable that Queensland has been singled out here."

The tensions over the border follows a war of words between Health Minister Steven Miles and federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg yesterday.

Mr Miles yesterday labelled the withdrawal of the ADF from the state's border a "bargaining chip"  in an effort to pressure the State Government to reopen.

Mr Frydenberg had labelled the suggestion the Government was withdrawing the ADF for political reasons, "rubbish", and Mr Miles in turn labelled Mr Frydenberg a liar.

On breakfast television this morning, Mr Frydenberg did not hold back on Mr Miles.

"Well, he's a stumbling, bumbling, lightweight that no-one's ever heard of, who's just made it up as he goes," Mr Frydenberg told the Today show.

"I was asked a question on radio yesterday, whether the Government's movement on ADF troops was designed to deliberately damage Queensland border policy, and I said that was absolutely rubbish.

"And then he goes and holds a press conference asking me to apologise — for what?

"I mean this guy's, just as Peter Dutton said earlier, just seeking to pick a fight to play politics, to play politics with the pandemic, to play politics with the deployment of ADF troops.

"I mean that guy should just grow up."

At a media conference in Brisbane this morning, Mr Miles again questioned the Federal Government's motivations.

"They can call me all the names in the world they want to," Mr Miles said.

"We have this Conga-line of Morrison Government ministers every day, on every program out there attacking me, attacking Queensland, attacking our restrictions that have been so successful — and the only difference is that we have an election coming up.

"So who do you think is making it political?

"I think you can very clearly see they are discriminating against Queensland, as they are continuing to provide Defence Force support to other states."

Today, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told Sky News managing closed borders would now be the states' responsibilities.

"In the end, it's the states that want to impose state borders," Mr Cormann said.

The ADF will continue to assist with Hotel quarantine in Queensland after their withdrawal from the checkpoints.

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