VISA-holding seasonal workers living in Victoria border zones can now apply for a permit to work on farms in New South Wales.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said after two weeks of lobbying, the NSW Government late Thursday finally softened its hard border closure to allow seasonal workers to apply for a permit.

“The decision to lock out visa-holding seasonal workers was costing our citrus growers more than $1 million a day, so clearly these measures had the potential to completely economically cripple growers,” Ms Cupper said.

All seasonal workers in Sunraysia will be able to apply for a border resident permit from today.

They must not have travelled outside of the Victorian border zone in the past 14 days, provide identification at the border and have proof of their current living arrangement (bill or bank statement) and letter of employment.

“The seasonal workers living in Mildura have been here working since May and have all engaged in COVID-19 prevention plans at both their accommodation houses and places of employment,” Ms Cupper said.

“They were never a bigger health risk to the people in NSW than anyone else.

“The NSW Government should have had a better understanding of the needs of our labour workforce. Hopefully it now does.

“I commend Nathan Hancock and everyone at Citrus Australia for their hard work in highlighting the adverse impacts this initial hard border closure was having for their industry.

“I also commend all industry and community leaders right along border on both sides of the river who have been tirelessly working to let the NSW Government know its draconian measures have been tearing our communities apart.

“I would urge both the NSW and South Australian governments to actually communicate with industry, business and community leaders in border communities before introducing any further border restrictions.

“They need to have a better understanding of how intrinsically linked border communities are and implement measures that are proportionate to risk.”