THE New South Wales Government is introducing draconian border restrictions which will do nothing for the safety of its residents and play havoc with the social and economic fabrics of communities.
“Once again, with zero communication the NSW Government has decided to drop a bombshell on border communities that is going to cause upheaval,” Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said.
“These restrictions clearly go too far and will have no impact in keeping one single person from NSW safer.”
Ms Cupper said NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard’s flippancy in saying people would no longer be able to “pop across to do your shopping” showed just how out of touch he and the Berejiklian Government were with life in border communities.
“Mr Hazzard saying he ‘makes no apologies about protecting NSW residents and jobs’ is laughable given the impact these new restrictions are going to have on our communities,” she said.
“Greater Melbourne and Mitchell shires have now been in lockdown for almost two weeks – which should absolutely minimise the amount of people travelling from hotspots across the border.
“And there still hasn’t been a COVID-19 case in the Mildura electorate for months.”
Ms Cupper is calling on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to intervene, saying communities on the Victorian side of the border will be hard hit by these new restrictions.
“Our businesses rely on people being able to cross the border in the course of their daily lives,” she said.
“Not only that, it is a safety issue given people who commute from Mildura to Robinvale need access to the Sturt Highway that cuts through NSW. We know that travelling along Hattah-Robinvale Road is untenable.
“Mr Andrews needs to address this with the NSW Government as a matter or urgency, given we have no timeframe for how long these new restrictions will be in place.”
Under new restrictions, residents will only be able to obtain a permit to go to work or attend an educational institution if they can’t work or learn from home, or for medical care or supplies.
People entering NSW for child access or care arrangements, and freight workers, will need a COVID Safety Plan while seasonal workers from Victoria will be banned from entering NSW.
Entry for medical or hospital services will only be allowed if those services are not available or can’t be accessed remotely.
