COMPASSIONATE grounds need to be added to the New South Wales border control permits.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said she was continuing to lobby the NSW Government to broaden the criteria for permits in cross-border communities.

The New South Wales Government this week tightened its border controls to only allow border residents access to a permit for one of three reasons – work, education or health care.

However, it has left many people in border communities unable to cross the river to visit family members with serious medical conditions.

“The current criteria is so stringent and permits are only being granted in very limited circumstances on compassionate grounds,” Ms Cupper said.

 “For example, it is only allowed if you have a family member who is terminally ill and ‘close to the end of their life’.

“Or if you are the carer of an immediate family member who is in significant need, where no one else can provide the service.

“But we have had an example brought to us of a constituent who was denied a permit to see her mother who has motor neurone disease.

“Again, this is clearly over-reach from the NSW Government and an example of how its tightened border closures are impacting border communities.

“Compassionate grounds needs to be one of the reasons people within the new border zones can obtain a permit to travel within those zones.

“This really is a humanitarian issue. There are many examples of people with relatives on either side of the border who have special needs, but they don’t fall within the current strict criteria.”