MEMBER for Northern Victoria Tania Maxwell has labelled changes to border restrictions imposed by the NSW Government as a “gross overreaction”.
She has called on the NSW Government to rethink new restrictions that will stop residents both sides of the border getting to work and education.
Ms Maxwell, a Justice Party Upper House MP, said it was unclear how the border zone had been determined and was disappointed that local councils felt sidelined through the process.
“These updated restrictions will cause havoc for border residents, many of them already under enormous stress,” she said.
Ms Maxwell said many of the affected communities had no active cases and the harsh restrictions could cause permanent damage to the mental health and financial stability of residents.
“There are basically no active cases in these areas and residents, who have been diligent in adhering to social distancing, are now being punished by a metro-centric policy” Ms Maxwell said.
She said it “beggared belief” that the NSW Government would refuse residents from areas with low or no cases the chance to travel for work or education and the move contradicted Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s words that essential workers included “anyone with a job”.
