BOWMAN MP Andrew Laming has labelled a plan to house NRL players at a Moreton Island resort as 'daft', arguing it could see COVID-19 cases spiral out of control in the same way they have on cruise ships.
Mr Laming said the NRL would be defying government advice by effectively running a giant personal training session on the island and had called on league bosses to rule out the idea.
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"Anyone can unwittingly take COVID-19 onto the island and the effect would be somewhat akin to what's been happening on cruise ships," he said.
"The odds of a group of 500 Australians of this age group already having an infected case is around 20 per cent.
"It isn't a risk worth taking and it already breaches every rule in the Chief Health Officer's book."
The NRL last week floated the idea of isolating players at Tangalooma Island Resort in a bid to get the season back up and running by June 1.
Under the plan, players would stay together away from family and be flown to Brisbane on weekends where they would play games behind closed doors.
A strict testing regime was reportedly being considered by the planning committee to ensure players were not carriers of COVID-19.
Mr Laming said the NRL would be creating a double standard and putting residents at risk by following through with the plan.
"Partners of NRL players aged between 20 and 24 are the most at-risk of COVID-19. There cannot be one rule for league and another rule for the rest of us," he said.
"Moreton Island residents deserve the best protective measures during this crisis, including their staff.
"I will be talking with residents and stakeholders to try to prevent this hair-brained scheme becoming reality.
"I remind the NRL that we are all in this together and the more we keep to the strict guidelines the faster we will get to the other side."
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