NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has admitted to ignoring NSW Health rules by failing to self-isolate after taking a COVID-19 test.
Ms Berejiklian had a swab last Tuesday afternoon after question time in anticipation of questions about her hoarse voice.
The Premier defended her failure to self-isolate, saying she didn't have symptoms. Credit:Getty Images
She stressed the test was precautionary and not required under NSW Health guidelines.
But the Premier admitted she did not go into self-isolation until receiving a negative result, a clear breach of the health direction.
"I took the test not because I thought I had any symptoms but because I was losing my voice and I wanted to make sure I was overly cautious," she told the Today show.
"If I was an ordinary citizen I wouldn't have had any symptoms so I wouldn't have taken the test, but I went over and above."
The test results were fast-tracked and came back negative within two hours.
"I'm sure I was in contact with people," Ms Berejiklian said.
"I didn't change my schedule. I can't tell you exactly what I did, I can't remember.
But please know that every time anyone comes into contact with me, social distancing, hand sanitisation, all those things were always the case but I didn't change my schedule in that 90 minutes or two hours."
I should've closed my door and not had anything to do with anybody.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian
Asked whether she had breached the rules, Ms Berejiklian said that was "down to interpretation".
"In hindsight I should've closed my door and not had anything to do with anybody."
Meanwhile, the Premier said she would be delighted if the Queensland border restrictions were lifted on Tuesday.
On Monday Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hinted she could announce an easing of restrictions before the end of the month, when the state traditionally reviews its border arrangements.
"I'd be absolutely thrilled and delighted if the Queensland Premier made that announcement today," Ms Berejiklian said.
But she said once borders open, they should remain open indefinitely even when future outbreaks occur.
"I don't want to give the message to the community that the borders will keep opening and shutting at a whim because that doesn't give anybody any certainty."
Ms Berejiklian denied the issue was a personality clash between the two premiers.
"I think it’s a policy clash. I think we just have very different views on how to run the pandemic," she said.
NSW last had an unlinked case of community transmission on October 24, meaning the state has already exceeded Queensland's threshold of 28 days without a mystery case.
Ms Berejiklian said NSW recorded zero new locally transmitted cases on Tuesday, extending the state’s streak to 17 days without a community case.
Queensland opened its border to all of NSW on July 10 before closing it again on August 8.
Josh Dye is a news reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.
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2020-11-23 21:35:00Z
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