Rachael Freeman has been cutting hair in the Tweed Heads region for 24 years, but next month she's shutting her business for good, because of ongoing border restrictions.

"People don't even know what we're going through. 

"They go through their normal lives like it's nothing and I want to do that from now on." 

Ms Freeman has owned her own Tweed Heads salon for 16 years, but has decided to shut on December 23. 

"I am not an essential business to cross the border for and I had a lot of heartbreak then.

"Clients of 15 years were ringing me up in tears saying they can't get to me, I'm so sorry." 

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Queensland is demanding all travellers from interstate hotspots show they have returned a negative PCR test within the previous 72 hours.

There's a $150 cost per test for anyone with no COVID symptoms.

Border zone residents who are double vaccinated are not required to undergo testing if they are crossing for essential purposes such as work or medical reasons.

Ms Freeman travels from her home at Cedar Grove, in the Scenic Rim, to the Tweed each day to operate her business and she also visits clients at home. 

"I've been doing home clients because of that reason in Queensland," she said. 

"It's my heart and soul, it's not just a business to me.

The Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, yesterday defended her position on requiring people from hot spots to pay $150 for a PCR test.

"They're also required in other states as well, it's not just Queensland," she said.

"We are in a unique situation here, we have had zero cases for many, many days now.

"Queenslanders want to be kept safe." 

Border frustrations

Rachael Freeman said many border business owners and residents feel like their concerns are not being listened to.  

"They haven't seen their families or their friends or their loved one for so long. 

"This is coming up to Christmas and things aren't going to change."