MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper is lobbying the South Australian Government and Victoria’s Cross Border Commissioner for a regional “travel bubble” to allow residents from the Mildura LGA access into South Australia.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall on Tuesday announced the state was abandoning plans to reopen its borders to Victoria on July 20.
It comes after a spike of COVID-19 cases in metropolitan Melbourne in the past week.

The increased border closure has been met with frustration in Sunraysia given there has not been a coronavirus case in northwest Victoria since April.

“I can understand Mr Marshall has a duty of protect his residents, but I believe a travel bubble allowing residents from our region is realistic given the lack of cases here,” Ms Cupper said.

“It seems strange that a resident from across the river is able to travel to South Australia without the need to quarantine for 14 days but residents from Cullulleraine, or Mildura, or anywhere else in the Mildura LGA can’t.
“Allowing South Australians to travel to our region, without the need to quarantine upon return, would also be a boost to our struggling tourism industry.

“I have today written to Mr Marshall and Victoria’s Cross Border Commissioner Luke Wilson asking them to investigate a travel bubble as a matter of urgency.

“The continued border closure to South Australia is a huge burden on our region and I believe a sensible, safe solution can be found.