MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper is increasing the pressure on the South Australian Government to abandon plans to implement extreme restrictions which are causing huge angst for border communities.

Ms Cupper said the current restrictions on the Victorian/SA border were working and there was no need to tighten the rules on border communities.

“The Victorian cases over the past few days look to be stabilising and there is no growing risk from regional Victoria despite claims in recent days from the SA Premier, Health Minister and SA Chief Health Officer,” she said.

“Any risk can and has been mitigated by the measures currently in place which include people getting tested every week.

“There has not been one infection in SA caused by a person from a border community. People in those communities are extremely vigilant about keeping the virus out and have done everything asked of them.

“The restrictions coming on Friday are a bridge too far and it’s not too late for the SA Government to look at the facts, rather than playing politics, and just maintain the current restrictions.”

Ms Cupper dismissed claims from Federal Trade and Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham that she was “wrong” about the current restrictions being a political move.

“Mr Birmingham claimed there was an increase in reported cases in Victorian border communities and that there was a threat from growing cases in regional Victoria,” she said.

“But neither of these things are true.

“Case numbers have been consistently falling in regional Victoria over the past five days and while there remains some concern about hotspots in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, there has not been growth in the border LGAs.

“There are currently 10 cases attributed to border LGAs – including the Mildura case which it has been widely reported is a person who contracted the virus while in Melbourne and remains isolating in Melbourne.

“From all reports the clusters in Portland (seven cases) were from families and not community transmission, are contained and the number of active cases is falling, not growing.”

Ms Cupper said there needed to be more clarity on border closures from the Federal Government.

“On one hand you have Mr Birmingham saying the tough approach from South Australia is justified, but on the other hand you have our local member slamming both the SA border closures and the broader Stage 3 restrictions in the Mildura LGA, arguing they are not justified,” she said.

“Some consistency from the Federal Government would be nice.”