WENTWORTH Regional Tourism has called on state leaders to reconsider the current rules, restrictions and limitations that continue to leave many local businesses struggling.
In a letter to New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, relevant MPs and cross border commissioners, WRT president Brian Beaumont said border communities and businesses, particularly those on the NSW side of the bubble, had copped a “double-whammy” by being severely affected by restrictions imposed by both NSW and Victorian governments.
“While we all agree on the need to manage and mitigate risk in relation to COVID, it must be understood by decision makers the existing conditions imposed by individual states is severely impacting small business,” Mr Beaumont said.
“It would appear decisions in relation to border bubbles are made in isolation without consultation between the states.
“That way business will have some capacity to operate albeit limited.”
Mr Beaumont said state and federal governments should do everything they could to establish realistic and workable conditions that would facilitate a genuine bubble that would see residents on both sides of a border adhering to the same restrictions.
He said that would give small business some chance of surviving.
“To be a true bubble residents must be able to move about freely within the bubble but not exit, residents from outside be excluded, and penalties to apply for transgressions.
“After all businesses, mental health and lives are at stake in relation to this matter.
“I implore you to use your influence and role to have changes made that will improve the current circumstances.”
