The Queensland border closure has caused chaos for Canberra travellers hoping to escape the winter chill, forcing families to cancel birthday parties, revise holidays and wait until they can reunite.
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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the border will be closed to NSW and ACT residents from 1am on Saturday, saying travellers were using Canberra as a back-door entry to Queensland.
For the Pender family, it means delaying a double birthday celebration and meeting daughter Caitlin's boyfriend because they are unable to travel south.
Robyn Pender was planning to celebrate her 62nd birthday with Caitlin this weekend. The family hasn't been together since Christmas.
"It was her birthday last weekend and it's my birthday coming up, so she was going to come down Thursday evening and stay for a long weekend," Mrs Pender said.
"I'm very sad and [Caitlin's] very sad too. I guess it's disappointing that the ACT is being lumped in with New South Wales given that we don't have any cases at the moment.
"But I guess I can understand the position of Annastacia Palaszczuk. It's frustrating, we're COVID-19 free but we can't go anywhere."
The Queensland government said both the NSW and ACT were coronavirus hotspots, prompting the travel ban despite no active cases in Canberra.
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Queenslanders trying to return home from the ACT or NSW after Saturday will be forced to pay for a mandatory 14-day mandatory quarantine.
"I will not risk our state's economic recovery by allowing COVID to spread. I will do everything I can to protect Queenslanders and the economy," Palaszczuk said.
Caitlin Pender will remain in Queensland, with COVID-19 restrictions forcing the family to cancel their regular reunions. Mrs Pender said the family would usually see each other two or three times per year.
But instead of sharing cake and celebrations this weekend, the Penders will turn to video calls to ensure they can still be together.
"We were meeting up on Friday to go out for lunch," she said. "And I would like to support Canberra [businesses].
"We have seen [Caitlin's boyfriend] on FaceTime but we haven't met him yet.
Mrs Pender and her family had also made plans for a two-week holiday to Pumpkin Island and the Sunshine Coast from next week. The travel restrictions has forced them to cancel all plans, including flights and accommodation, but Mrs Pender hoped they would be given credits to reschedule the trip.
Mrs Pender is coming to grips with the potential of not being able to gather her family together this year, hoping restrictions will ease again to allow them to reunite at Christmas.
"It's the unknown of how long it's going to be," she said. "If Queensland opens the border again, I will be on the first plane I can get on."
For now, only essential workers and residents who live in border towns will be able to cross over into New South Wales.
Exemptions will be limited, including those for compassionate reasons. Queensland Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles also pleaded with Queenslanders to stay within the state.
"I urge Queenslanders not to travel interstate; the risks are too great. Stay in Queensland and stay safe," he said.
The border will remain closed for the next month before being reassessed.
The Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies will be free to cross the border, however, as per exemptions granted to the NRL and Super Rugby competitions to allow them to continue.
The ACT has been coronavirus free for the past 26 days despite being declared a COVID-19 hotspot by Queensland authorities.
