MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton admits New South Wales’ pending Victorian border closure will be difficult for border communities.
A permit system for unavoidable travel across the border will be put in place from 11.59pm Tuesday night, said to cover travel for work and essential health services.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed some details about how the permit system would be implemented on Monday.
Mrs Dalton supported the decision by the NSW Government after Victoria recorded a further 127 coronavirus cases on Sunday.
“I suppose they are erring on the side of caution, it’s really difficult,” she said.
“It’s really bad for people in Victoria of course and those trying to cross over from New South Wales back in, I’ve got to be seen to supporting the government’s decisions, even though I would run the world differently myself.
“I would be tending to close places by postcodes like (the Victorian Government) has done so we don’t all suffer … if people would do the right thing it would be good but we can’t trust everyone will be vigilant, that’s the problem.
“They are making the hard decisions now before the virus gets away from us.”
Crisis talks between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the premiers of each state led to the decision.
“I’m not aware of how they are going to work it out, I know it’s going to be difficult for people, there’s no doubt about that, but we have to try and make sure the virus doesn’t spread into New South Wales,” Mrs Dalton said.
“Closing the border is going to be very difficult for people, if they’ve got to access medical care and also provisions, particularly around (the Sunraysia area) there aren’t any major towns.
“There will be dramas too with students who have to go to Victoria for school, that’s going to be an issue too, that complicates things.”
Victorians from virus-plagued hot spots who try to enter NSW already face jail time and an $11,000 fine under tough new rules.
A man in his 90s died overnight, becoming the 21st person to die from the virus in Victoria.
There were 645 active cases in the state, with 31 people in hospital including five in intensive care.
