TOUGHER border restrictions from the New South Wales Government have been slammed by MPs on both sides of the George Chaffey Bridge.
The new rules, which take effect midnight on Tuesday, limit travel across the border from Victoria only to work, education or medical care, supplies and services.
A new, tighter border zone was set to be established, with NSW residents who travel beyond the zone facing a 14-day isolation requirement when they return.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper, in a statement which described the changes as draconian, said they would do nothing for the safety of NSW residents and play havoc with the social and economic fabrics of communities.
“Once again, with zero communication the NSW Government has decided to drop a bombshell on border communities that is going to cause upheaval,” Ms Cupper said.
“These restrictions clearly go too far and will have no impact in keeping one single person from NSW safer.”
Ms Cupper said NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard was out of touch to suggest people would no longer be able to “pop across to do your shopping”.
“Mr Hazzard saying he ‘makes no apologies about protecting NSW residents and jobs’ is laughable given the impact these new restrictions are going to have on our communities,” she said.
“Greater Melbourne and Mitchell shires have now been in lockdown for almost two weeks – which should absolutely minimise the amount of people travelling from hotspots across the border.
“And there still hasn’t been a COVID-19 case in the Mildura electorate for months.”
Ms Cupper called on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to intervene, mentioning the safety issues facing commuters between Mildura and Robinvale if forced to travel on Hattah-Robinvale Road.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton said she was being “bombarded” with messages from constituents “whose daily lives are being destroyed”.
She said some residents in her electorate travelled beyond the reported new zone for cancer treatment.
“The NSW Premier does not realise how dependent NSW country towns are on Victorian services,” Mrs Dalton said.
“The border closure has caused chaos.
“It’s split up families, savaged businesses and left people needing vital medical treatment in limbo.”
Mrs Dalton suggested the border zone be expanded to range from Griffith to Bendigo.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the changes “won’t be easy” but he could understand why NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian had implemented them.
He said Regional Development Minister Jaclyn Symes would be the lead minister on border issues.
“Whether it’s Albury-Wodonga, Cobram-Barooga, Mildura-Wentworth, we often provide services into southern New South Wales, people often have to travel for work,” Mr Andrews said.
“I know there will be some really practical issues that people have to work through, but I’ve got an open line of communication with my premier colleague in New South Wales.
“I’ll continue to speak with Gladys and Jac Symes will continue to work with her counterparts to try and make a difficult set of circumstances just a little bit easier.”
NSW recorded 20 new cases in its Monday update, each linked to known sources.
