Interstate visitors will be slugged the cost of an expensive PCR COVID-19 test before entering Queensland.

Fully vaccinated interstate residents will be permitted to enter Queensland from December 17, provided they are fully vaccinated and can show a negative PCR COVID-19 test from the past 72 hours, at a cost of around $150.

Chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum, Margy Osmond, said she was hoping the state government would embrace rapid antigen testing.

“This is an active disincentive to travel,” she told Scott Emerson.

She said for a family of four, it would cost around $600, which might cost more than the airfare, and it was inconvenient.

“The technology and the capacity is changing pretty quickly, surely we could be looking at rapid testing instead of PCR.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the plea to the government